Women To Lead UN Talks On Gender, Accountability In Extractive Sector

Efforts to address gender disparities and strengthen accountability in Africa’s extractive sector will take centre stage as Women in Mining Africa (WiM-Africa) convenes a side event at the 12th session of the Africa Regional Forum on Sustainable Development (ARFSD-12).

The session, organised under the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA), will focus on advancing dialogue around the proposed Africa Responsible Minerals and Gender Index (ARMGI), a framework aimed at linking mineral wealth to measurable outcomes for women and host communities.

Executive director of Women in Mining Africa, Dr Comfort Asokoro-Ogaji, told journalists that the initiative aims to shift attention towards tangible outcomes for stakeholders.

The session, with the title “Advancing Gender-Responsive Mineral Governance and Measurable Host Community Outcomes through ARMGI,” is expected to bring together representatives of African institutions, private sector operators, development partners, environmental groups and civil society organisations.

According to her, discussions will centre on how to translate commitments in the extractive sector into measurable outcomes, particularly for women and host communities.