Having just emerged from August Women’s Month 2024 in South Africa – and there is a clear sense that women’s voices are rising above the global and local chaos we find ourselves in. Having attended three events this past month focussed on the challenges and the opportunities facing women in mining, it is heartening to see women experts writing and talking tech, sharing thought leadership and experiences, networking and supporting one-another. The ‘eye-sore’, however, is the stark lack of presence of men at these high-profile events – and, unfortunately, we are told, it is not for lack of invitation.
On the global front
According to the World Bank, the advancement of women at work can potentially increase global GDP by 20%1, despite this and although global women employment rates rising, McKinsey tells us that progress in diminishing the global gender gap is slowing. According to the World Economic Forum’s (WEF’s) 2024 report on the global gender gap2 released in June, attaining full gender parity could take another 134 years – up from 131 years last year. WEF said that while worldwide gender inequality had narrowed marginally over the past year, it had done so at a slower pace than before. One top challenge lies in women’s under-representation in leadership positions in the workplace. Globally, women trailed men in virtually all sectors and economies studied, representing 42% of the labour force and about 32% of senior leaders.
No country has achieved full gender parity although 97% of the 146 economies included in the index have closed more than 60% of their gap, but this compares to 85% in 2006. Iceland, at 93.5%, is again ranked first and has closed over 90% of its gender gap. Notably, sub-Saharan Africa, finds itself in sixth place with a gender parity score of 68.4%.
“The region has advanced by an overall +5.6 percentage points since 2006. While 21 out of 35 economies are in the top 100, Namibia stands out as a top 10 performer. Over half of the countries in the region have closed over 70% of their gender gap; however, the top and bottom ranks are divided by 22.8 percentage points. Economic participation and opportunity stands at 68.1%, with progress in labour-force participation and positive results in technical and professional roles. Ranking last in educational attainment, sub-Saharan Africa has the widest gap to close, with a score of 88.9%. Health and survival stands at 97.1%, while political empowerment shows improvement at 22.6%, with notable strides in ministerial and parliamentary representation, particularly in Mozambique and South Africa.”2
Local progress – moving in the right direction
The South African government is doing well on this score – women are well represented– and the mining industry in the country is moving in the right direction, but retention of women in the sector is critical, says Elizabeth Marabwa, chief director: Programmes & Projects Management Office, Department of Mineral Resources and Energy (DMRE) in an update on how the DMRE is supporting and developing women in mining. The legislation is in place, the guidelines are there and there is good representation of women at government level.
However, again, the overwhelming consensus across all the events attended was that women in the private sector must equip themselves with knowledge of their rights, they must work together in the public-private sector and support one another in their boots on the ground and their seats around the boardroom table – and there is an individual accountability in delivering excellence, speaking up, seeking mentorship, local and global networking and pulling other women up and into the ranks where decision are being made. Be engaged, says Marabwa, do not forget to bring your skill ‘to nurture’ to work, be part of the associations available that have a voice for women, comment on legislative changes when the opportunity arises.
“Ladies, if we do not hold hands, we will go no where!” Marabwe concludes.
And from all of us, gentleman please join the conversation at these events, you are welcome and your input is essential to complete the dialogue.
Follow the below LinkedIn trail to view some of the insights shared at the events.
Building your career: https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7231595063632396288
GBVF: https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7231655187352829952
Conscious, practical approach to reaching gender parity: https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7234511532166922240
Mental health: https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7234520948496826368
Innovative ESG: https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7235184208522969088
Retention strategies: https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7235184208522969088
References:
- https://www.weforum.org/
- The Global Gender Gap Index annually benchmarks the current state and evolution of gender parity across four key dimensions (Economic Participation and Opportunity, Educational Attainment, Health and Survival, and Political Empowerment). https://www.weforum.org/publications/global-gender-gap-report-2024