The County Government of Turkana in partnership with Solidaridad, a locally based NGO, has joined hands to empower local communities to identify and report gender issues for immediate action by relevant authorities.
Speaking during the inaugural training session, the Chief Officer (CO) for Energy, Petroleum, and Mining, Trizah Amoni, said that the partnership aims to train individuals from the communities engaged in the mining sector to serve as champions of gender concerns.
The CO added that the training would cover all aspects of the artisanal mining value chain, starting from actual extraction and formation of cooperatives to marketing. "Together with Solidaridad, we are committed to ensure respect for gender rights and safe spaces for women and men to benefit from the sector," she said.
The training curriculum has therefore been designed to create awareness on responsible mining practices, gender-sensitive psychosocial support, referral pathways for gender-related concerns, supply and use of safety equipment, and first aid corresponding to men and women. "These initiatives must be taken seriously," she said. "As a county government, we are fully committed to supporting artisanal miners to overcome the challenges they face." Additionally, the partnership will also focus on economic empowerment models, including the formation of Village Savings and Loan Associations (VSLAs) for women.
