Gender, Community Development and EI

1. Gender, Community Development and EI • Most of the social risks from EI –domestic violence, family disintegration, alcohol, pollution, increased workload, typically impact women much more than men • Yet it is a widely established fact that women play a strong role in community development – yet little focus given by mining companies to increase the benefits for women.

2. Current Context 10/10 mining companies surveyed in Peru knew at least some of the women’s risks and issues – but none monitor them and few take action Current consultation processes and projects deepen the man’s role in the public space and the women’s roles in the private space. When the benefits mainly accrue to one half of the population (the men) and the risks to the other half of the population (the women) what happens if you then only ask the men how it is all going?

3. The Need • Development projects or activities that benefit women are not necessarily easy to do • Women’s networks and organisations may need considerable strengthening • Little interface between the best community development practices on gender and the mining world’s development practice

4. Recommendations • Make the Case: The sector needs to deepen its own analysis and research into the impact of EI on women • Make stronger link between community experts and the mining sector: this will both make the case for WHY to work with women and HOW to work with women. • Link with women’s organisations – and gender experts in NGOs and use their tools and approaches for cultural appropriateness • Set specific indicatorsand disaggregate baseline studies by gender to monitor impact on women and avoid gender-blindness