African First Ladies have endorsed the Women in Mining Africa (WIM-Africa) $150 million Action Plan (2026?2030), a continent-wide initiative designed to transform women?s participation in Africa?s mineral sector from ?survival to significance.?

The endorsement came during a continental webinar where the First Lady of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania, Mariam Mint Dah, affirmed that women remain critical to Africa?s mining workforce and community livelihoods, yet continue to face marginalisation in the mineral value chain.

Comfort Asokoro-Ogaji, Executive Director and Coordinator of WIM-Africa, in her presentation outlined the five-year strategy aimed at mainstreaming women in Africa?s mining industry. ?Africa holds nearly a third of the world?s mineral wealth, yet women, who are at the forefront in their communities, still play second fiddle. This agenda is to change that narrative,? she said.

The Action Plan will be driven by a seven-point agenda, which includes women-led mineral value addition, women-only mining zones and cooperatives, Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) and climate resilience, and legal support.

According to Asokoro-Ogaji, implementation will follow a phased roadmap: Year 1: Establishment of 30+ national chapters and foundational structures; Year 2: Programme consolidation and legal engagement; Year 3: Research, cooperatives and regional development; Year 4: Laboratory leadership and youth empowerment; and Year 5: Evaluation, sustainability and transition.

WIM-Africa also unveiled its flagship programme, which will deliver multi-mineral beneficiation laboratories, leadership and technical training, climate action projects, and value-addition facilities linked to the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

Specific beneficiation hubs have been mapped across Africa, including a lithium and gemstone centre in Nasarawa State, Nigeria, gold and diamond initiatives in Sierra Leone, diamond and gemstone projects in Botswana, gold in Tanzania, cobalt and copper in the Democratic Republic of Congo, phosphate in Morocco, and gold and manganese in Ghana.

Asokoro-Ogaji emphasised that the $150 million initiative would not be solely donor-funded but would run on a blended financing framework, combining public-private partnerships, development finance, and donor contributions. (Saturday Sun)

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