Gender

Given that mining is historically a male-dominated sector, companies and their systems, staff and workers are often not ready to seamlessly absorb women into the workplace. Significant cultural and systems changes are being made by the Lonmin-IFC program in the Preparation, Recruitment, Development and Retention of women.

The idea for this guide originated from a specific site based request within Rio Tinto for information on incorporating gender considerations into a social baseline study. Advice was also sought regarding the development of gender appropriate programmes, located both within the business and the local community.

This manual provides a conceptual framework and a step-by-step guide to integrating women into the mining sector, as well as into other extractive and heavy industries. Successful integration of women ensures greater benefits for local communities and creates a more just and equitable society. The integration of women into these historically male-dominated industries is not easy, but when it is done well, it can have a transformative effect.

By Adriana Eftimie, Katherine Heller and John Strongman

Extractive industries (EI) can bring many positive development impacts to the communities involved, but also have the potential to create or exacerbate vulnerabilities within these communities. Benefits and risks are often evaluated and measured at the community level, with little examination of the different impacts on men and women. Women have a key role in creating this social license and in facilitating the social and economic development of their communities. Thus, understanding and consideration of how women and men are uniquely impacted by Extractive Industries (EI) – on the part of EI companies, governments, and donors – can increase the effectiveness and sustainability of EI operations.

By Bernie Ward and John Strongman

The World Bank management response to the Extractive Industries Review identified community-related issues as an important area to be better addressed in World Bank extractive industry (EI) activities. As part of the World Bank Group’s work to implement the commitment, the Oil, Gas, and Mining Policy Unit of the World Bank has been engaging in community issues with a particular focus on women. This work so far has involved World Bank projects and research tasks in countries in Asia (Papua New Guinea, Indonesia and Lao PDR), Eastern Europe (Poland and Romania) and Africa (Tanzania and Mozambique).

This toolkit and resource guide has been produced jointly by the Sustainable Energy Programme of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and ENERGIA, the International Network on Gender and Sustainable Energy. It is designed to help planners and practitioners integrate gender and energy considerations into development programmes, including those focusing on energy improvements as well as other types of development programmes.