From October 22 to 27, 2026, workshops were conducted in the prefectures of Boké, Forécariah, and Faranah, bringing together 130 participants, including 91 women and 39 men. These sessions aimed to highlight the importance of involving communities, particularly women and youth, in the development, implementation, and monitoring of local development commitments. The workshops were organized by a consortium of NGOs, including Créativité & Développement (C-DEV), MERCOM, GRADEL Guinée, RAJGUI, ReNOFF, and Cadre de Concertation Genre et Mines.
The workshops covered topics such as gender, equality between women and men, and the main provisions of the Local Development Convention (CDL). The training also focused on the roles and responsibilities of local actors in its development, implementation, and monitoring. A participatory approach, including the use of a visual aid kit with animation guides, facilitated discussions on these themes in a simple and accessible language. This approach enabled participants to engage in meaningful exchanges and gain a deeper understanding of the CDL.
A major concern emerged during the workshops: the need to engage in advocacy with competent authorities to promote greater community involvement in the development of the CDL. Participants emphasized the importance of extending the dissemination of the CDL content beyond prefectural headquarters to directly reach localities most affected by mining activities. This would enable concerned populations, particularly women and youth, to better understand the convention's provisions, know their rights and responsibilities, and participate more actively in consultation and monitoring mechanisms.
The workshops also highlighted the importance of better representation of women and youth in dialogue, consultation, and decision-making spaces. With nearly 70% female participation, the mobilization of women in these training and exchange sessions was significant. Discussions underscored the need to take into account the needs and priorities of women and youth in local development processes, promoting their effective participation in decisions concerning their communities.
The concerns expressed during the workshops emphasize the need to continue awareness-raising actions and strengthen dialogue between communities, local authorities, and mining companies. Expanding the dissemination of the CDL to localities directly impacted by mining activities and reinforcing community participation in its development and monitoring are priority areas to consolidate the gains from these trainings.
The consortium's interventions aim to promote women's leadership, youth participation, social cohesion, and more inclusive and participatory mining governance. By engaging in advocacy and community sensitization, the goal is to enable communities to better understand local development challenges and contribute to decisions that concern them. The project's focus on capacity building and awareness-raising is expected to have a positive impact on the involvement of women and youth in mining governance.
The project's outcomes will be crucial in shaping the future of mining governance in Guinea, particularly in the prefectures of Boké, Forécariah, and Faranah. As the project moves forward, it will be essential to monitor progress and assess the effectiveness of the workshops in promoting women's and youth participation in local development processes. The involvement of local communities, authorities, and mining companies will be vital in ensuring the long-term sustainability of the project's objectives.
Key points
- The workshops focused on enhancing women's and youth participation in mining governance.
- The Local Development Convention (CDL) was a key topic of discussion during the workshops.
- The project aims to promote more inclusive and participatory mining governance in Guinea.
