Partnering with Copperbelt University to Advance Women’s Rights in Mining Areas

In a pioneering initiative to promote gender equity in Zambia’s extractive sector, we partnered with Copperbelt University (CBU) to deliver a targeted training programme to 16 community leaders from mining-affected areas across the country. Held in Kitwe, the sessions aimed to strengthen grassroots capacity to defend and advance women’s rights in mining zones.

The training was designed to equip local leaders with the tools to identify rights violations, advocate for gender-inclusive development, and ensure that women’s voices are meaningfully included in decisions shaping extractive activities.

Collaboration Between Academia and Civil Society

The training was led by Dr Patricia Kamanga from Copperbelt University, who underscored the value of cross-sectoral partnerships in social transformation.

“This initiative demonstrates how educational institutions and civil society can work together to produce community-level change,” she noted.

The curriculum addressed a range of priority themes:

• Gender-based violence and labour rights
• Environmental justice and health impacts
• Legal frameworks protecting women in mining contexts
• Engagement strategies with mining companies and traditional authorities

Through interactive sessions and real-life case studies, participants explored how to challenge entrenched gender inequality and contribute to safer, more inclusive mining communities.

From Learning to Action

Edward Lange, Senior Programmes Officer, reflected on the broader purpose of the initiative:

“Mining has the potential to either entrench inequality or advance social justice. By empowering community leaders with a gender lens, we are ensuring that women are not left behind.”

The trained leaders have since returned to their communities to:

• Cascade knowledge to peers and local institutions
• Lead public awareness campaigns on women’s rights in mining
• Collaborate with local stakeholders to build safer, more equitable extractive environments

This work forms part of a broader commitment to people-centred, responsible resource governance, ensuring that mining delivers benefits to communities—especially women—who have historically been left on the margins.