Extractive Industries and Gender

The World Bank's Role in Gender and the Extractive Industries

In many communities involved in the Extractive Industries (EI), gender bias exists in the distribution of risks and benefits: the risks, such as environmental damage and social harm, fall more heavily on women, while the benefits, such as employment and compensation, accrue mostly to men. The World Bank's Gender and EI program seeks to better understand these gendered impact of the extractive industries, to create and share information on how to minimize risks and maximize community empowerment, and to to ensure that EI projects all include a gender perspective.

The Gender and EI team is based in the Oil, Gas, Mining Policy Division (COCPO) and works to inform governments, mining companies, and other stakeholders about unique impacts of EI on men and women, and how to improve development and business outcomes by best understanding these impacts. The World Bank and IFC have worked with numerous governments and EI companies to ensure that gender issues are a priority. Read more about COCPO's Gender and EI activities here.

What's New in Gender and EI at the World Bank

Ongoing study on the Gender Dimensions of the Oil and Gas Industries An ongoing study is examining the gender dimensions fo the oil and gas industries, through community- and national-level discussions and consultations in Azerbaijan, Uganda, Papua New Guinea, and Peru. The study explores how men and women are differently impacted by the oil and gas industry, different mechanisms for coping with these impacts, differentiated access to related resources, and how to advise governments and companies on mitigating negative impacts and promoting positive ones. Results of the study will be available in June 2012. For more information, please contact kheller@worldbank.org.

Recently Published on Gender and EI

 Gender  Dimensions of Artisanal and Small-scale Mining: A Rapid Assessment Toolkit 

This toolkit provides an analytical framework for exploring and understanding the gender dimensions of artisanal and small-scale mining, eight modules for with practical guidance for field assessment, and case studies from the pilot implementation of the toolkit in Mozambique, Lao, Tanzania and Uganda. The toolkit is available for download here.  For more information, please contact kheller@worldbank.org 

 

"Gender Sensitive Approaches for the Extractive Industry in Peru: Improving the Impact on Women in Poverty and their Families"

This book presents a detailed look at the importance of ensuring positive development outcomes for women in the extractive industries in Peru. This book explores the roles and opportunities for all relevant stakeholders and illustrates how the mining sector can take a few simple steps to substantially improve its impact on the disadvantaged individuals within the mining communities. The book suggests approaches that governments, companies, civil society, and communities can take to improve the impacts of extractive industries projects on women, and through these approaches facilitate positive development outcomes on the wider family and community. Read online or order here.

Two new publications from COCPO on Gender and the Extractive Industries:

• Mining for Equity: The Gender Dimensions of the Extractive Industries
• Mainstreaming Gender into Extractive Industries Projects: Guidance Note for Task Team Leaders 

Gender and EI in the News

"Women Miners": Creation of the Guyana Women's Miners Association (February 16, 2012; Stanbroek News) Women in Guyana have joined togethe to create a miners association, to combat support women engaged in the heavily male-dominated gold mining industry in the interior of Guyana. Read full article here.

"Indonesian Avatar' Fights Miners in East Nusa Tenggara": Women in Indonesia fight to protect ancestral lands against mining. (February 15, 2012; Jakarta Globe) An Indonesian women's fight to protect her ancestral lands highlights the importance of consultation with men and women, and the real risks that come with failure to obtain 'social license' to operate. Read full article here.

Continuing illegal gold mining - a lead poisoning in Nigeria: "Lead Poison: We Won’t Stop Mining Despite Danger To Our Lives – Youths" (February 11, 2012; Leadership) Despite publicized risks of lead poisoning, many miners continue illegal gold mining in Nigeria, with much of the gold processing taking place in private homes - leading to particularly dangerous consequences for women and children. Read full article here.

India: Women labourers give opium to infants to keep them quiet while working: Report (February 9, 2012; The Times of India) Lacking better childcare options, or alternative livelihoods, women in India bring infants to work with them as miners and stone-crushers, and must resort to drugging the children to keep them quiet throughout the day. As the children get older, many face problems with addiction; many also begin themselves working in mines from as early as age 10. Read full article here.

Mexican Labor Shortage Opens Mining to Women" (April 15, 2011; Women's E-News) "A male labor shortage in Mexico has opened the door for more women to join the country's mining industry. Despite widespread superstitions deterring women from entering mining, one industry official says their inclusion has been a total success." Read full article here.