Women Sustainability Forum 2016
in partnership with
Theme: Exceptional Women in Sustainable Extractives and Leadership
Location: Medellin, Colombia
There has been a rapid development of the extractive industry (mining, oil and gas) globally, compromising human capital in the regions where it operates, particularly that of women. In this context, WSF16 explored the links between the extractive industry and opportunities for the sustainable human capital development of women in the extractive industry. The absence of an approach for the attraction, retention and sustainable development of women in the extractive industry, in the current scenario is not only causing productivity losses in extractive companies, but also puts at risk regional sustainability.
In this context, the objective of WSF16 was to carry out an informative / consultative process to explore opportunities for attraction and sustainable human capital development of women in the extractive industry (mining, oil and gas) at the local and global levels. It also sought to generate recommendations aimed at creating social and corporate sustainability approaches that generate sustainable value for various stakeholders, namely, industry, women in mining, oil and gas, governments and civil society. Some of the topics covered by WSF16 were allocated in three sessions:
Session 1: Sustainable human capital development of women in the extractive industry: A new approach to corporate social sustainability
This session introduced IBF’s study ‘Sustainable Human Capital Development of Women in the Extractive Industry – The Colombian Case’. The study presents the gender inclusion challenges based on sustainability reports of resource companies operating in Colombia (AngloGold Ashanti Colombia, Red Eagle Mining Colombia, Cerro Matoso, Cerrejón, Continental Gold, Mineros S.A y Drummond Ltd Colombia). The investigation found that only one of the companies investigated obtained a score of 12, being 15 the highest based on IBF’s methodological approach. IBF’s methodology can be consulted at the International Journal of Women Sustainability and Leadership under the innovations section of IBF’s website.
The methodology was based on a corporate policy analysis aligned with the approach to sustainable human capital development designed by IBF, across five pillars: education, leadership, innovation, employment and entrepreneurship.
Session 2: Attraction and retention of women in the extractive industry
This session aimed to present case studies of companies operating in Colombia, eliciting interesting results. Interestingly, more than 50% of companies investigated face significant challenges at attracting and retaining women in the extractive industry. Case studies were critically reviewed against the approach to sustainable human capital designed by IBF.
Session 3: Women in mining, oil and gas: An emerging global approach to social license in the extractive industry
WSF16 ended with a consultation workshop sponsored by ContinentalGold. Following a focus group methodology, this session discussed relevant topics on the implications of gender inclusion for obtaining a social license to operate. This session gathered participants around collaborative dialogues, sharing different perspectives from government, corporate sector and civil society organizations.
Sponsors and participants of WSF16
- IBF
- eWisely Colombia
- Cerro Matoso
- Orica
- Continental Gold
- Minería Texas Colombia
- Mineros S.A
- School of Mines, Universidad Nacional de Colombia
- University of Queensland Australia
- Universidad Pedagógica y Tecnológica de Colombia (UPTC)
- Directorship Corporate Mining, Mi
- Ministry of Mines and Energy. Colombia
- Civil Society Organisations (CBOs)
Find out more about the WSF 2016 (Report available in Spanish only)