Gender Inequalities in Africa’s Mining Policies: A Study of Inequalities, Resource Conflict and Sustainability

This book develops a discursive ‘equalitarian’ theoretical framework for studying African mining ecosystem issues and policy interventions. The theory of ‘equalitarianism’ is developed as an alternative to the reductionist approach that has dominated post-colonial debates about the classical jus ad bellum requirements to empower women in development spaces. However, the classical approach narrows the debate down to “women issues,” rather than the ‘whole-of-society.’ As a consequence of this reductionism, women continue to be devalued in the mining sector, characterized by poverty traps, power struggles, and a lack of capacity to engage in large-scale mining (LSM) activities. This book advances principles for a holistic approach, and spells out the implications for women across the mining value chain. Drawing on moral scholarship, the book poses that for women to gain access to strategic spaces in the mining sector, the drive for empowerment must be embedded within ‘whole-of-society’ principles. This book is of interest to scholars researching gender policy, public policy, political philosophy, conflictology, and human geography. It also offers practitioners a guide for evaluating their policy work on mainstreaming gender in the mining sector, presenting options for financing, forging partnership and planning for an inclusive economic development in Africa, and beyond.  

Table of Contents:
Introduction: A Study of Inequalities & Responses.-  PART I: EQUALITARIANISM & AFRICA’S MINING POLICY ENVIRONMENT.- Equalitarianism.- Women’s Invisibility in Mining Ecosystem.- Gender Equality, Mining and Society.- Spatial Inequalities in Mining Spaces.- Mining Policy Frameworks.- PART II: SUSTAINABLE RESPONSES TO INEQUALITIES.- Global and Regional Responses.- Financing Mechanism.- Collaboration and Partnerships.- Solidarity Model and Mining Industry.- Transparency Model and Mining Industry.- Conclusion: Policy Responses and Actions.

About the Author :
Francis Onditi is Associate Professor of Conflictology and Dean, School of International Relations and Diplomacy, Riara University, Kenya. He was recently enlisted as a distinguished research author and professor of research at the Institute for Intelligent Systems (IIS), University of Johannesburg, South Africa. He is the 2019 recipient of the AISA Fellowship awarded by the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC), South Africa. Prof. Onditi is a widely published pan-African researcher specializing in the geography of African conflict and evolutionary nature of conflict. He has published more than 70 articles in peer reviewed journals, contributed 20 chapters to edited volumes, and authored/co-edited 6 university level books. His epistemic research affiliation is conflictology specialising in the geography of conflict, institutional evolution theory , regional integration, and civil-military relations. Prof. Onditi’s main contribution is in modelling, thinking uncharted models, and development of theoretical frameworks and concepts, including, most recently, the ‘dominatarian theory of regional integration’, and ‘Technology for Peaceful Society’ (T4PS).