By Palma Ileye
In a move to deepen grassroots transformation across Africa’s mining landscape, Women in Mining Africa, WiM-Africa, has officially released its Chapter Management Guidelines—a comprehensive operational framework designed to equip, standardize, and empower chapters across the continent and diaspora.
This was disclosed in a statement signed by Dr. Comfort Asokoro-Ogaji, Executive Director, WiM-Africa. Developed through months of strategic consultations and aligned with international best practices, the guidelines offers clear direction on governance, program delivery, accountability, volunteer coordination, and partnership development.
According to the statement, the framework is structured to align all Chapter activities with WiM-Africa’s institutional structure, Strategic Focus Areas, SFAs, and Seven-Point Program Agenda, 7PPAs, ensuring coherence and impact from the community level to continental platforms.
WiM-Africa noted that more than a manual, the Chapter Management Guidelines were a call to action: for every Chapter to rise with clarity, lead with purpose, and deliver measurable change adding that whether operating in artisanal mining communities, universities, cooperatives, or national hubs, each chapter now has the tools to strengthen local engagement, enhance reporting, and build cross-border solidarity for Africa’s mineral future.
Speaking on the rollout, Dr. Comfort Asokoro-Ogaji, Executive Director of WiM-Africa, emphasized that, “A decentralized movement only thrives with coordinated standards. This framework is not about control—it is about consistency, credibility, and collective power to change narratives from the ground up.”
The statement also disclosed that the new guidelines also introduce accountability measures and monitoring tools to ensure that chapters remain aligned with WiM-Africa’s values—particularly gender equity, transparency, and local ownership.
It stated, “From reporting templates to funding protocols, mentorship structures to conflict resolution systems, chapters are now better positioned to deliver inclusive, visible, and ethical leadership in the mining ecosystem.
“Chapters in countries are now invited to review, adopt, and internalize the guidelines—ushering in a new era of organized growth, inter-chapter collaboration, and high-impact advocacy.”
WiM-Africa also called on all existing and emerging chapters to use the new framework as a tool for reflection, renewal, and radical action.
Speaking at the event where the guidelines were launched, Dr. Comfort Asokoro-Ogaji, Executive Director of WiM-Africa, reiterated the movement’s conviction that, “WiM-Africa is not just a network—it is an infrastructure for systemic change.”
She emphasized that the newly unveiled guidelines were more than a handbook—they are a strategic framework designed to anchor local action in excellence, integrity, and continental relevance.
“We are building more than chapters—we are raising structured, accountable, and visionary platforms capable of delivering impact in mining communities, schools, cooperatives, and public institutions,” she stated. She further highlighted that every chapter must uphold a standard leadership framework made up of five core officers: a Chapter Coordinator (or Chairperson), Programs Lead, Outreach and Membership Officer, Communications and Media Officer, and Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning, MEL, Officer.
