KEY POINTS
- Women in Mining Africa advocates for gender equity and ethical standards in mining.
- The Zimbabwe Environmental Law Association focuses on sustainable mining and environmental justice.
- IMPACT partners with local groups to promote ethical supply chains and community empowerment.
Africa’s mining industry has long been a cornerstone of its economies, but the sector often grapples with issues of environmental degradation, exploitation, and poor labor practices.
To address these challenges, several NGOs are driving initiatives to promote ethical mining practices that prioritize sustainability, social inclusion, and human rights.
Here are five African NGOs making significant strides in transforming the mining sector for the better.
Women in Mining Africa
Operating in 36 African countries, Women in Mining Africa is dedicated to empowering women in the mining sector.
The organization fights for equal resource access alongside fair opportunities for leadership roles with responsible and sustainable mining practices that benefit social groups.
Protecting children in mining regions remains their core mission as ethical practice is essential for the industry.
Alliance for Responsible Mining (ARM)
Established in Colombia, the Alliance for Responsible Mining (ARM) operates internationally, including in several African countries.
The ARM organization seeks to enhance the responsible act of artisanal and small-scale mining activities by offering help for miners to build up their economic circumstances and living standards.
The organization creates sustainability standards that match sector realities to establish responsible artisanal and small-scale mining as legitimate members.
Zimbabwe Environmental Law Association (ZELA)
Based in Zimbabwe, the Zimbabwe Environmental Law Association (ZELA) is a public interest environmental law group that promotes environmental justice, sustainable and equitable use of natural resources, democracy, and good governance in the natural resource and environment sector.
ZELA serves as an implementing partner to carry out programs that promote gender equality and environmental stewardship within artisanal mining operations throughout the nation.
IMPACT
IMPACT is an organization that collaborates with African NGOs to transform natural resource management in areas where security and human rights are at risk.
Through partnerships with local organizations, IMPACT supports projects that promote ethical mineral supply chains, environmental stewardship, and the empowerment of women in mining communities.
Their mission includes projects that operate in locations such as the Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda and Zimbabwe.
Club des Volontaires pour l’Appui aux Peuples Autochtones (CVAP)
Operating in the Democratic Republic of Congo’s Ituri Province, CVAP is a non-profit organization that promotes indigenous and women’s rights in local communities.
Partnership with IMPACT enables CVAP to run sensitization sessions and capacity-building activities while providing leadership development opportunities for women and indigenous pygmies in artisanal mining communities.
Nonprofit organizations lead the charge in supporting ethical African mining practices to achieve responsible and sustainable development which honors both the environment and neighboring communities.