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From Charity Nwakaudu, Abuja
Women in Mining Africa (WiM-Africa) has secured a major platform at a United Nations forum to champion gender accountability and responsible mineral governance across the continent.
The group will host a high-level side event at the 12th Session of the Africa Regional Forum on Sustainable Development (ARFSD-12), under the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA), to launch dialogue on the Africa Responsible Minerals & Gender Index (ARMGI).
The session, themed “Advancing Gender-Responsive Mineral Governance and Measurable Host Community Outcomes through ARMGI,” is expected to attract top stakeholders from African institutions, the private sector, development partners and civil society.
Focus will be on how to move beyond policy promises to real impact, especially for women and host communities often left out of mining benefits.
WiM-Africa said ARMGI is designed as an accountability tool to promote fair benefit-sharing, track outcomes and ensure women are not sidelined in Africa’s extractive value chain.
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The framework also aims to align the mining sector with key development targets, including the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Agenda 2063 and the African Mining Vision.
Executive Director of WiM-Africa, Dr. Comfort Asokoro-Ogaji, stressed the need to redefine success in the sector.
“Africa’s mineral wealth must be measured not only by production and revenues, but by outcomes for women and communities. ARMGI seeks to help move us from commitments to measurable impact,” she said.
The broader forum, themed “Turning the Tide: Transformative and Coordinated Actions for the 2030 Agenda and Agenda 2063,” will also examine gender inclusion, community accountability and responsible minerals in the energy transition.
Stakeholders are expected to outline practical steps for piloting ARMGI across Africa, as calls grow for a more inclusive and people-focused mining sector.
WiM-Africa said the engagement will deepen collaboration among governments, industry players and partners to ensure Africa’s mineral wealth delivers real value particularly for women at the grassroots.
