No. 4

Women and Artisanal and Small-Scale (ASM)

Gender and Development ment typically declines as the degree in artisanal and small-scale of organization and mechanization Promoting gender mining increases. (WMMF 2000) Thus, wom- equality in the en’s roles tend to be less lucrative and As of 2013, an estimated 20 to 30 profitable than other roles dominated ASM sector can million people engaged in artisanal by men (e.g. owners, managers and maximize social and small-scale mining (ASM) globally; sellers). and economic in many countries, women make up • Women’s labor is often ‘invisible’ between 10 to 50 percent of small-scale in studies of small-scale mining: development and miners. (Eftimie et al., 2012, Hinton et because women often doing jobs like help reduce poverty. al 2003.) But while women tend to have transporting materials, they may higher participation rates in ASM than not be formally identified as ‘miners’. in large-scale mining operations, wom- Women are also often working in en are also more likely to be involved the domestic sphere, or in informal in the mining of lower value industrial supporting jobs, such as small shop minerals that require more intensive owners, nightclub entertainers and/or extractive processes and greater safety sex workers. risks. This note explores women’s roles in ASM, as well as opportunities to • The remote, informal and often increase security and opportunities for illegal nature of ASM often means women in the sector. that women are more susceptible to human rights abuses, sexual and gender-based violence, and health Women’s Roles in ASM risks (World Bank 2014; Dinye and Erdiaw-Kwasie, 2012). Further the The World Bank has developed a tool- lack of judicial support and provision kit for understanding women’s roles in of basic infrastructure and basic ser- ASM, as well as developed case studies vices within ASM communities often on women in ASM, across Africa and heightens women’s vulnerability to Asia, and including a specific explora- sexual and gender based violence tion of gender based violence around and increases their sexual health and ASM in the Democratic Republic of reproductive needs. Congo. (World Bank and Harvard Hu- • Women’s domestic responsibilities – manitarian Initiative 2014). Research preparing food, gathering water, and has identified that: caring for families – means that they • Women’s participation varies by often disproportionately experience country and mineral, but women the negative indirect impacts of ASM, often undertake a range of tasks including contamination of water re- within ASM mining operations, in- sources, injury or death of husbands cluding digging, panning, processing, from mining (Etimie et al., 2012; Hin- transporting, hauling, cooking and ton et al., 2003; Collins et al., 2014; cleaning. Dinye and Erdiaw-Kwasie, 2012).

• Women’s engagement is often con- Structural barriers can also limit wom- centrated around lower paid, lower en’s ability to fully participate in and value activities, and their engage- Support to Artisanal and Small-Scale Miners in Ethiopia

With the support of the Government of Japan, the World Bank is work- ing with the Government of Ethiopia to reduce benefit from engagement in ASM: the local gender dynamics, divisions poverty among small- and challenges within the ASM sector. scale mining communities • Women’s limited access to resources Stakeholders must identify the gender in Ethiopia, with a partic- (e.g. land rights and financial credit) dimensions of all stages of the ASM ular focus on supporting and mobility due to other domestic value chain prior to developing ASM women in these com- responsibilities (e.g. child-rearing). assistance policies and/or programs munities to improve the • Legislation or socio-cultural norms (Eftimie et al., 2012). environmental and social that prevent some women from con- sustainability of their trolling their income from ASM activ- ASM assistance strategies livelihoods. The project ities (e.g. male head of the household Once the gender dynamics within ASM has supported women in controls the family finances). are identified and understood, gov- 12 communities through ernments, companies and civil society geological assessments, • Legislation and cultural taboos pre- organizations (CSOs) can develop training in improved vent some women from entering mine more informed strategies, policies and mining techniques, envi- sites or participating in particular programs. Some best practice examples ronmental management, roles (e.g. in some countries, it is ille- of gendered ASM assistance strategies small business training gal for women to work underground include: and a related small grants or socially taboo for them to enter a program, and upgrading mine site if menstruating). • Systems to formalize and reg- of basic infrastructure. ulate Develop strategies to better integrate local ASM activities, par- Opportunities to improve ticularly those involving women, into gender equality in ASM formal systems, including: - Reducing barriers to formalization The majority of ASM activities around the world operate outside any legal - Developing incentives to increase framework (either no legal framework participation in the formal sector KATIE IS THE THE RIGHT CAPTION?: Woman small scale miner in Ethiopia. exists or ASM operations do not oper- - Including measures like financial ate within it). While some governments assistance and capacity building. aspects of mining; health and safety have largely ignored ASM activities in Key Take Aways practices; financial literacy, legal ca- the past, there is a growing consensus • Cooperatives and associations pacity, bookkeeping, marketing and that the ASM sector must be formally Women’s networks have proven • Promoting gender equality in the managerial skills. acknowledged, better organized and important to raise awareness with ASM sector can maximize social supported to improve practices, reduce government and policy makers on • Women-targeted value-adding and economic development and help environmental degradation and maxi- important public policy issues facing strategies Support the implementa- reduce poverty. While women’s mize benefits for communities, includ- women. Support the formation tion of women specific value-adding • While women’s involvement in ASM involvement in ASM ing women (Lowe, 2005; Siegel and of cooperatives or women mining or ‘beneficiary’ strategies to maximize is greater than other mining indus- is greater than other Veiga, 2009; Maconachie and Hilson, networks that encourage women’s the potential economic opportunities tries, women’s roles are concentrated 2011; Collins et al., 2014). participation, bargaining power, work for women from ASM. in lower-level supporting roles rather mining industries, A number of recommendations to conditions and economic indepen- • On-site supporting services than in managerial or ownership women’s roles maximize the sector’s development dence. Provide on-site childcare services at roles. potential and to reduce the risks and are concentrated in • Gender sensitive financial ASM operations to improve women’s vulnerabilities for women exist (Eft- • Gender-neutral ASM assistance assistance Provide microcredit to productivity and reduce the health lower-level supporting imie et al., 2012). These include: programs and policies may further women ASM miners and operators to and safety risks to children on mine exacerbate gender biases and gaps. roles rather improve production efficiencies and sites. Understanding the gender dynam- maximize financial outputs. • Governments, companies and CSOs than in managerial or ics of ASM • Alternative livelihoods support must understand the gender divi- ownership roles. To successfully design and implement • Gender appropriate training and Support local communities, particu- sions, barriers and challenges of the ASM assistance policies and programs, capacity building Design and deliv- larly vulnerable women, to develop ASM sector prior to developing and all stakeholders (government, private er training workshops and programs. their skills in alternative employ- implementing ASM assistance poli- sector, civil society and ASM coopera- Capacity building for women should ment opportunities that are safer and cies and programs. tives or networks) need to understand include: technical and processing more profitable.

1 Extractive industry companies tend to engage with ASM workers only if they are active in their area of operation. Resources: “Gender Dimensions of Artisanal and CASE STUDY: Encouraging the Small-Scale Mining: A Rapid Assess- formalization of women ASM miners ment Toolkit.” The World Bank, 2012. – Micro-grant scheme, Sustainable “Mining for Equity: The Gender Di- Management of Mineral Resources Project, mensions of the Extractive Industries.” The World Bank, 2009. Nigeria (2005-2012) “Resources and Resourcefulness: Gen- der, Human Rights, and Resilience in In Nigeria, the Ministry of Mines and Steel Development, with the Select Artisanal Mining Towns of East- support of the World Bank, implemented a gender-sensitive mi- ern Congo.” The World Bank, 2014. cro-grant scheme under the Sustainable Management of Mineral Resources Project. The grant scheme was designed to offer incen- tives to women miners to join cooperatives and to help formalize References: their activities through formal support and capacity building. To Collins N. and Lawson, L., (2014) Investigating Ap- proaches to Working with Artisanal and Small-scale participate in the scheme, women miners were required to join a Miners: A Compendium of Strategies and Reports from cooperative or association. After doing so they became eligible the Field, Brisbane, Australia for a small grant, which could be used to improve their opera- Dinye R. and Erdiaw-Kwasie, M. (2012) ‘Gender and labour force inequality in small-scale mining in tion’s resources and capacity. Ghana’. International Journal of Sociology and Anthro- pology, 4(10): 285-295. Many women miners took up the initiative and a number of newly Eftimie, A., K. Heller, J. Strongman J. Hinton, K. Lahi- formed women’s associations and cooperatives received small ri-Dutt, N. Mutemeri with C. Insouvanh, Mi. G. Sambo, grants to support their ASM activities. Some examples include: and S. Wagner, 2012. Gender dimensions of Artisanal and Small-scale Mining: A Rapid Assessment Toolkit, • Sokoto Women Miners Association – purchased vehicles to Washington, D.C.: The World Bank. Heemskerk, M., (2005), Collecting data in artisanal and transport gypsum small-scale mining communities: measuring progress towards more sustainable livelihoods. Natural Resourc- • Irrigwe Women’s Cooperatives – purchased milling equipment es Forum 29, 82–87; Sinding, K., 2005. Hinton, J., M. Veiga and C. Beinhoff. (2003). Women • Otuifunaya Women’s Multi-Purpose Cooperative Society – pur- and artisanal mining: Gender roles and the road ahead, chased a generator and jaw crusher. in Gavin Hilson (ed) Socio-Economic Impacts of Artisanal and Small-scale Mining in Developing Countries, Lisse: (World Bank 2012; In Collins et al., 2014) A.A. Balkema Publishers, pp. 161–204. International Labor Organization, (1999), Social and La- bour Issues in Small-Scale Mines. Report for Discussion at the Tripartite Meeting on Social and Labour Issues in Small-Scale Mines, International Labour Organization, Sectoral Activities Program, International Labour Office, Geneva Levin, E. (2012) Understanding Artisanal & Small-Scale Mining in Protected Areas and Critical Ecosystems: A growing global phenomenon. Presentation for ASM Protected and Critical Ecosystems London Roundtable November 2012. Lowe, S. (2005) Consolidated report: Small-scale in the Guianas. Report prepared for the WWF. Guianas, Paramaribo. Maconachie and Hilson (2011) ‘Safeguarding livelihoods or exacerbating poverty? Artisanal mining and formal- ization in West Africa’, Natural Resources Forum, vol. 35, no. 4, pp. 293-303. Perkes, R. (2011), Towards a post-conflict transition: Women and artisanal mining in the Democratic Re- public of Congo, in Kuntala Lahiri-Dutt (ed) Gendering the Field: Towards Sustainable Livelihoods for Mining Communities, Asia-Pacific Environmental Monographs, Canberra: ANU Press, pp. 177-196. Siegel and Veiga (2009) Siegel, S & Veiga, MM 2009, ‘Artisanal and small-scale mining as an extralegal econ- omy: De Soto and the redefinition of “formalization”’, Resources Policy, vol. 34, no. 1-2, pp. 51- 6. World Bank Group; Harvard Humanitarian Initiative, (2015), Resources and Resourcefulness: Gender, Human Rights and Resilience in Select Artisanal Mining Towns of Eastern Congo, The World Bank Group, Washington World Bank (2012) Nigeria - Sustainable Management of Mineral Resources Project. Washington DC : World Bank. http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/ en/2012/11/17058502/nigeria-sustainable- manage- ment-mineral-resources-project Women small scale miners in Ethiopia. (Pact 2015) World Bank (2013) Small-scale mining, Available at http://go.worldbank.org/4K0MT244R0

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