Tools and Equipment for Better Safety and Productivity of Women Artisanal Miners

Small grants were provided to targeted groups such as women stone crushers, artisanal miners working in the Kombé quarries, and potters living with disabilities. More than 1,800 pieces of tools and equipment were distributed, including wheelbarrows, rakes, gloves, sledgehammers, pickaxes, and tricycles for transportation. These small grants complemented the technical and entrepreneurial skills trainings provided by the Programme. 

These essential tools and equipment enabled artisanal mining groups to improve their productivity, safety, and working conditions at mining sites and workshops. Access to appropriate equipment helped make their work more efficient and reduced some of the physical challenges associated with artisanal mining activities. 

Beyond the equipment support, the initiative also promoted the organization of women into cooperatives. This helped strengthen their management capacities, improve their independence, and reinforce their economic position within the sector, contributing to the reduction of gender inequalities in mining. 

Using a participatory field-based approach, the Programme first identified the real needs of the groups directly on site and then distributed appropriate tools and equipment. This approach ensured that the support provided was practical, relevant, and aligned with the long-term sustainability of artisanal mining activities.