Donor-Advised Fund (DAF) and major donor contributions to Women in Mining Africa (WiM-Africa) are strategically deployed toward institutional infrastructure, safety systems, research, and scalable continental programs with long-term impact as detailed in the WiM-Africa Action Plan 2025-2030.

 

1. WiM-Africa Institute for Leadership, Sustainable Mining & Value Addition

(Including Beneficiation & Mineral Testing Laboratory)

The WiM-Africa Institute is the organization’s flagship institution-building initiative, designed as a continental center of excellence for:

• Mineral beneficiation and value addition training

• Applied research and innovation in sustainable mining

• ESG, safety, and environmental management capacity building

• Technical training for women and youth across mineral value chains

A core component of the Institute is the Beneficiation & Mineral Testing Laboratory, which supports:

• Training in mineral processing and quality assurance

• Support to women-led enterprises transitioning into processing and downstream activities

• Research, testing, and certification aligned with international standards

 

DAF funding supports: laboratory setup and equipment, curriculum development, faculty and technical experts, applied research, and institutional infrastructure.

 

2. Project M-Safe: Mining Safety, Accountability & Prevention Program

Project M-Safe is WiM-Africa’s continental safety and accountability initiative focused on preventing deaths, injuries, and systemic neglect in mining communities—particularly among women and vulnerable populations.

The program addresses:

• Unsafe artisanal and small-scale mining practices

• Lack of emergency response systems

• Absence of accountability and compensation mechanisms

• Weak enforcement of safety and social protection standards

Project M-Safe operates through:

• Safety awareness and training

• Policy advocacy and institutional engagement

• Documentation and reporting of incidents

• Collaboration with governments, regulators, and civil society

 

DAF funding supports: safety interventions, field documentation, policy engagement, training materials, and continental advocacy for safer mining systems.

 

3. Voices of Children from the Pits

(Child Protection, Advocacy & Awareness Program)

Voices of Children from the Pits is a dedicated advocacy and protection program addressing the invisible impact of mining on children living in and around mining communities.

The program focuses on:

• Documenting lived experiences of children affected by mining

• Addressing child labor, neglect, trauma, and loss

• Elevating children’s voices in policy and advocacy spaces

• Linking child protection concerns to mining governance, safety, and ESG frameworks

This program is designed to influence policy reform, corporate accountability, and community-level protection systems.

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DAF funding supports: research, storytelling and documentation, advocacy campaigns, stakeholder engagement, and integration of child protection into mining policy discussions.

 

4. ESG, Climate Resilience & Gender-Responsive Mining Systems

WiM-Africa advances gender-responsive ESG and climate resilience approaches within the mining sector, ensuring that women and communities are not excluded from sustainability frameworks.

This work includes:

• ESG capacity building and advisory

• Climate risk awareness and adaptation strategies

• Gender integration into mining governance and ESG standards

• Engagement with investors, companies, and regulators

 

DAF funding supports: research, training programs, policy engagement, and development of practical ESG tools and guidance.

 

5. NextGen Women in Mining Leadership Pipeline

The NextGen program builds Africa’s future women leaders in mining through:

• Leadership development

• Mentorship and career pathways

• Research engagement

• Exposure to industry, policy, and innovation ecosystems

This program ensures continuity, sustainability, and long-term transformation of the sector.

 

DAF funding supports: training programs, fellowships, mentorship platforms, research engagement, and leadership development activities.

 

6. Research, Data & Continental Coordination

WiM-Africa serves as a continental knowledge and coordination platform, generating:

• Research and data products

• Policy briefs and position papers

• Evidence-based advocacy tools

• Cross-country coordination and learning

 

DAF funding supports: data collection, research publications, continental coordination, and engagement with governments, development partners, and global institutions.