30.04.2025 New Study: Feminist Development Policy in the Raw Materials Sector

The GIZ Sector Programme Resources and Development, commissioned by the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), has published a new study investigating what feminist development policy means in the raw materials sector and how women and marginalised groups in mining can be better protected and promoted. The study, authored by Syspons, provides a comprehensive analysis of the challenges and potentials of a feminist approach in this area.
Mining can significantly contribute to economic growth and sustainable development in the producing countries but also entails considerable social and environmental challenges. Women and marginalized groups are disproportionately affected by negative impacts, such as unsafe working conditions, lack of access to resources, and inadequate political participation. With the strategy of a feminist development policy (External link) and the Gender Action Plan (External link), the BMZ advocates for the equal participation of all people. The core question of the new study is what feminist development cooperation means in the context of the raw materials sector. The study focuses on four key action areas:

• Health and safety in mining regions
• Combating gender-based violence
• Economic empowerment of women in the extractive sector
• Equal participation in decision-making processes

A focus is placed on the “3R approach”: addressing injustices in terms of rights, resources, and representation of women and girls and marginalised groups. For development cooperation in the extractive sector, this means:

• Strengthening the rights of women and girls as well as marginalised groups in mineral supply chains.
• Promoting the resources of women and girls through improved market access and income opportunities in the extractive sector.
• Supporting the representation of women and girls, among others, in decision-making and consultation processes in mining in partner countries.

The analysis shows that a gender-equitable design of the resource sector not only promotes social justice but also contributes to long-term economic stability of mining communities. German development cooperation, together with international partners, is committed to further anchoring gender-equitable approaches in mineral supply chains. The study's findings highlight existing challenges, outline successful development policy measures already implemented, and provide an outlook on potentials for bringing the feminist development policy into action.

For further information please reach out to Linda Weber (External link) or Benjamin Halstenberg (External link).