Women in Artisanal and Small-Scale Mining: Challenges and opportunities for greater participation

The report examines the systemic marginalization of women in artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM), where they constitute 30% of the global workforce but are often relegated to low-value, non-digging roles. It identifies key bottlenecks, including lack of access to land, finance, and geological data, as well as cultural taboos and discriminatory legal frameworks. The document argues for gender-mainstreaming in formalization processes, the creation of women-specific financial products, and the strengthening of female miners' associations to improve women's economic independence and influence in the sector.

• Women make up approximately 30 per cent of the global artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) workforce, and up to 50 per cent in Africa, with some countries like Guinea reaching 75 per cent.
• Cultural barriers and taboos frequently exclude women from the most profitable 'first contact' activities, such as digging in pits, due to beliefs that women are physically unfit or bring bad luck.
• Women are predominantly concentrated in 'extended miner' roles—such as processing, washing, and vending—which are often underpaid or invisible in academic and policy literature.
• Economic marginalization is driven by a lack of access to land and mineral rights, which in turn prevents women from obtaining the collateral necessary for bank loans.
• Legal and institutional frameworks often reinforce gender inequality, such as laws in Botswana and Lesotho that require a spouse's or father's consent for women to access loans.
• Formalization and certification processes can inadvertently exclude women due to arduous registration requirements and low literacy levels.
• Women in ASM face significant health risks, including damage to the brain, kidneys, and lungs, because they frequently perform ore purification using mercury or cyanide.
• Female miners' associations, such as TAWOMA in Tanzania and AZWIM in Zambia, provide essential networking and advocacy but often struggle with a lack of finance and institutional capacity.
• Domestic and childcare responsibilities limit women's mobility and time, preventing them from attending training, applying for permits, or participating in decision-making processes.
• To improve participation, the report recommends implementing gender-sensitive loan facilities, such as public microfinance and village banking, and providing preferential quotas for women's land and license rights.

APA

Weldegiorgis, F., Lawson, L., & Verbrugge, H. (2018). Women in Artisanal and Small-Scale Mining: Challenges and opportunities for greater participation. International Institute for Sustainable Development. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/igf-women-asm-challenges-opportunities-participation.pdf

Chicago

Weldegiorgis, Fitsum, Lynda Lawson, and Hannelore Verbrugge. Women in Artisanal and Small-Scale Mining: Challenges and opportunities for greater participation. International Institute for Sustainable Development, 2018. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/igf-women-asm-challenges-opportunities-participation.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Weldegiorgis |first1=Fitsum |last2=Lawson |first2=Lynda |last3=Verbrugge |first3=Hannelore |title=Women in Artisanal and Small-Scale Mining: Challenges and opportunities for greater participation |publisher=International Institute for Sustainable Development |date=April 2018 |url=https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/igf-women-asm-challenges-opportunities-participation.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{weldegiorgis2018women, author = {Weldegiorgis, Fitsum and Lawson, Lynda and Verbrugge, Hannelore}, title = {{Women in Artisanal and Small-Scale Mining: Challenges and opportunities for greater participation}}, institution = {International Institute for Sustainable Development}, year = {2018}, month = apr, url = {https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/igf-women-asm-challenges-opportunities-participation.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }