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International Finance Corporation World Bank
The development effectiveness and sustainability of community development investments could increase significantly by taking into account how oil, gas and mining activities can benefit men and women more equally. Through engagement with female stakeholders, actions to address gender bias issues in the sector have been identified. They include: 1) economic empowerment by improving access to employment, micro-credit, skills training and business development; ; 2) social empowerment through equal representation among community leaders and committees that negotiate on extractive activities and community concerns; 3) health and education campaigns to raise awareness of HIV/AIDS and other high-risk diseases, improved health care services, adult literacy programs, and equal access to education for boys and girls; and 4) community safety initiatives to address violence against women. Importantly, when it comes to awareness raising and capacity building, both men and women should be targeted so they can buy in equally, otherwise women may face a dangerous backlash.

Featured Objects

Centre for Social Responsibility in Mining (CSRM)

The Centre for Social Responsibility in Mining (CSRM) was established by the University of Queensland in 2001 in response to growing interest in and debate about the role of the mining and minerals industry in contemporary society.  CSRM’s focus is the socio-economic and political challenges that confront companies, communities and governments when change is brought about by resource extraction.

Girl Effect

There are 600 million adolescent girls living in poverty in the developing world. The Girl Effect is an online information/networking system providing support for girls and their communities to have access to a safe place to meet, education, legal protection, health care, and training and job skills.

InterAction
InterAction is the largest coalition of U.S.-based international nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) focused on the world’s poor and most vulnerable people.InterAction’s more than 165 members work in every developing country. Members meet people halfway in expanding opportunities and supporting gender equality in education, health care, agriculture, small business, and other areas.
Social Change Assistance Trust

The Social Change Assistance Trust (SCAT) is an independent fund-raising and grant-making development agency. Its vision is vibrant and sustainable communities in rural South Africa.

Impact Alliance

The Impact Alliance is a global action network committed to strengthening the capacity of individuals and organizations to generate deep impact within the communities they serve.

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IFC Helps Advance Opportunities for Women Miners in South Africa
23 Jun 2010
IFC advisory services and investment staff in Africa and Washington have spent the last two years working with Lonmin to create an environment that will increase women’s role in the mining company's operations.

IFC Launches New Publications
5 Mar 2010

Please see below for recent publications launched by IFC.  Please send your comments or suggesstions to abhalla@ifc.org.

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Case Study: The Lonmin-IFC Women in Mining Program

Given that mining is historically a male-dominated sector, companies and their systems, staff and workers are often not ready to seamlessly absorb women into the workplace. Significant cultural and systems changes are being made by the Lonmin-IFC program in the Preparation, Recruitment, Development and Retention of women.


Women in Mining: A Guide to Integrating Women into the Workforce

This manual provides a conceptual framework and a step-by-step guide to integrating women into the mining sector, as well as into other extractive and heavy industries. Successful integration of women ensures greater benefits for local communities and creates a more just and equitable society. The integration of women into these historically male-dominated industries is not easy, but when it is done well, it can have a transformative effect.


Why Gender Matters: A resource guide for integrating gender considerations into Communities work at Rio Tinto
Rio Tinto Alcan

The idea for this guide originated from a specific site based request within Rio Tinto for information on incorporating gender considerations into a social baseline study. Advice was also sought regarding the development of gender appropriate programmes, located both within the business and the local community.


Women, communities and mining: The gender impacts of mining and the role of gender impact assessment
December 2009, Oxfam Australia
This report informs mining company staff of the potential gender impacts of mining projects and introduces some tools and approaches that they can use to conduct a gender impact assessment of these projects.

How to Design a “Return on Investment” Program in Factories
HERproject, Business for Social Responsibility
The HERproject of Business for Social Responsibility (BSR) is designed to help demonstrate the business case for onsite investments in the health of factory workers, particularly female workers.

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Women in Mining: Challenges and Opportunities
14 May 2010
Washington, DC, USA
The Lonmin and IFC Women in Mining Program invites you to a learning event show casing the results and lessons learned from an innovative program to increase female employment at Lonmin’s platinum mine in South Africa.
Sharing Experiences: Enhancing the Benefits to Communities from Extractive Industry Projects Workshop
19 June 2006
Washington D.C., USA

The objective of the workshop was to share experiences, training, and raise awareness of the community development work that is taking place. The focus was on sharing practical examples of helping communities benefit from extractive industry, highlighting the diversity of community development activities (supply chain, social, environmental issues), and discussing successes and lessons.

Sharing Experience: Monitoring and Evaluation for Community Development Projects tied to Extractive Industries Workshop
5 December 2006
Washington D.C., USA

Diverse stakeholders -- companies, communities and governments -- share a common goal of measuring and reporting the impact of extractive industry projects on local community development. While various groups are actively involved in monitoring and evaluating oil, gas and mining projects and their related community development investments, there seems to be no clear consensus on how to go about this complex process. This event will provide an opportunity to explore innovative ideas as well as practical assessment approaches. Participants are invited to bring experiences and tools to share. Participation in teams comprised of corporate, civil society and/or government counterparts is highly recommended. While the focus is on extractive industries, there is ample scope for cross-fertilization with other sectoral projects/programs.

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