Farana Boodrham

Project Title: Empowering women through new models for mining in SA, in the context of the UN Sustainable Development Goals

Research Theme: Licence to Operate

Supervisors: SGB

Abstract

The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) represents the world’s plan of action for social inclusion, environmental sustainability and economic development. Mining has the potential to create jobs, spur innovation and bring investment and infrastructure at a game-changing scale over long time horizons so the mining industry has an unprecedented opportunity to mobilize significant human, physical, technological and financial resources to advance the SDGs. Empowering women in mining by providing them with equal access to economic decision making processes will leverage the transformative power of diversity and collaboration while creating sustainable economies, thereby benefitting the mining industry and humanity at large. These developments will more effectively integrate the role of mining into the broader context of sustainable development and national plans to achieve this.

To address the challenges adequately, job creation, entrepreneurship and innovation are imperative. In this regard, co-operation between corporate, government and entrepreneurs is essential. If workable solutions cannot be found, there could be far-reaching negative consequences further impacting South Africa and its economy.

Women continue to be drastically under-represented at all levels in the mining industry despite there being a focus on diversity and inclusion over the last two decades. This study will primarily explore the current opportunities and challenges for women in the mining industry in the context of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals in accordance with the 2030 Agenda. Furthermore, the researcher seeks to explore how to address these challenges in order to empower women, thereby transforming the mining industry sustainably.