The Impacts of ASM Formalization on Women: A Comparison between DRC and Rwanda

Allison Furniss, University of Cape Town (South Africa)

Artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) is highly formalized in Central Africa due to global conflict-free mineral sourcing initiatives. While formalization is intended to increase health, safety, environmental protection and equal access to work, it tends to compound women's exclusion from mining and processing work. Women's exclusion manifests primarily surrounding motherhood responsibilities, such as navigating work and pregnancy as well as early childcare responsibilities. Through a comparison between Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), I argue that formalization efforts can increase women's participation in mining when informed and implemented by gender-sensitive approaches. While significant gaps persist in women's full participation in mining, a combination of government will, full legal inclusion and broader societal education around women's contributions to extractivism, can have a positive impact on the promotion of women in mining.

This presentation is part of a series of three sessions on Global Mineral Governance, organized by Chris Huggins.