Responsible Sourcing, Inclusive Impact: Cross-sector solutions for gender-responsive due diligence | Meeting report

This meeting report details a high-level session held on May 5, 2025, in Paris during the OECD Forum on Responsible Mineral Supply. Organized by the Women’s Rights and Mining (WRM) network and the Intergovernmental Forum on Mining, Minerals, Metals and Sustainable Development (IGF), the session marked the five-year anniversary of the WRM-OECD Stakeholder Statement on Gender-Responsive Due Diligence (GRDD). The discussion focused on transitioning GRDD from a compliance-based risk identification tool to a proactive mechanism for the empowerment of women, particularly those in artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM).

• Gender-Responsive Due Diligence (GRDD) must evolve from a punitive, compliance-driven process to a proactive tool for empowerment. The goal is to address structural inequalities and facilitate the full and fair participation of women, especially those in artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM), within formal mineral supply chains.
• There is a significant gap between corporate commitments to gender equality and actual implementation. While 94% of companies establish gender or human rights expectations for their suppliers, fewer than one-third provide concrete support to help suppliers meet those expectations. Furthermore, only 22% of grievance mechanisms are considered accessible, and less than 1% of companies track the resolution of gender-based violence and harassment cases.
• Mercedes-Benz has taken a leadership role in the automotive sector by becoming the first company in that industry to request gender-disaggregated data from its suppliers. The company uses this data to identify gaps and employs digital e-learning modules to scale GRDD training across its global network of suppliers.
• Italpreziosi has implemented the 'Empower Your Counterpart' (EYC) strategy, which treats suppliers as partners rather than risk points. This includes the development of the 'Empower ASM' app, a digital platform designed for low-connectivity areas to help ASM miners track practices, demonstrate compliance, and access training to enter the global gold supply chain.
• Effective GRDD requires deep grassroots engagement to avoid excluding women or entrenching informal practices. In Zambia's ASM sector, where 83% of site owners are male and only 17% are female, ActionAid Zambia emphasizes the need for participatory monitoring and culturally sensitive approaches to address local myths, such as the belief that menstruating women cause minerals to disappear.
• Cross-sectoral learning from the garment and agriculture industries can help operationalize GRDD in the minerals sector. Recommended practices include integrating gender clauses into supplier contracts, utilizing worker-led monitoring committees, and establishing joint grievance mechanisms.

APA

International Institute for Sustainable Development (n.d.). Responsible Sourcing, Inclusive Impact: Cross-sector solutions for gender-responsive due diligence | Meeting report. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/2025-07/responsible-sourcing-inclusive-impact.pdf

Chicago

International Institute for Sustainable Development. Responsible Sourcing, Inclusive Impact: Cross-sector solutions for gender-responsive due diligence | Meeting report. n.d. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/2025-07/responsible-sourcing-inclusive-impact.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=International Institute for Sustainable Development |title=Responsible Sourcing, Inclusive Impact: Cross-sector solutions for gender-responsive due diligence | Meeting report |url=https://www.iisd.org/system/files/2025-07/responsible-sourcing-inclusive-impact.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{internationalinstituteforsustainabledevelopmentndresponsible, author = {{International Institute for Sustainable Development}}, title = {{Responsible Sourcing, Inclusive Impact: Cross-sector solutions for gender-responsive due diligence | Meeting report}}, institution = {International Institute for Sustainable Development}, url = {https://www.iisd.org/system/files/2025-07/responsible-sourcing-inclusive-impact.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }