Mining Communities and Indigenous People

Bring the voices of Mining Communities and Indigenous People to Mining Indaba 2025

In 2025, Mining Indaba will, for the first time, recognise and acknowledge one of the African mining sector’s most important stakeholder groups – mining communities, civil society, and indigenous people. This landmark recognition will introduce dedicated sessions across various agendas to discuss critical issues related to their roles in mining, with the ultimate goal of building a transformed, inclusive, and sustainable industry together.

Image credit: David Sturmes: Fair Cobalt Alliance

About the initiative

This initiative aims to bring these crucial discussions to the forefront at Mining Indaba, ensuring the inclusion of strategic community and indigenous people’s participation. Their voices and insights will be integral to the dialogues, enriching the conversations and bringing new perspectives to the stages.

Our goal is to understand the challenges and find solutions that create meaningful opportunities and a strong social license to operate, fostering integration and support between mining communities, civil society, indigenous people, and the mining industry itself. By doing so, Mining Indaba can truly help deliver a ‘future-proof’ industry.

Through careful and strategic engagement, Mining Indaba will ensure that the voices of those representing larger community and indigenous groups will bring a new, dynamic, and experienced perspective to the event – one that has never been heard before. This engagement will not only highlight their invaluable contributions but also pave the way for a more inclusive and sustainable future in the mining sector.

Building momentum ahead of Mining Indaba 2025

Mining Indaba is partnering with The Impact Facility to invite mining community members, representatives of indigenous peoples in mining areas, civil society organisations, activists and visionaries to share their perspective on what is needed to ensure an equitable, inclusive and responsible mining sector that serves as an engine for community development with the goal of transforming minerals wealth into lasting, multi-generational prosperity. This will help ensure that collectively, we can future-proof the African mining industry, together.

Image credit: David Sturmes: Fair Cobalt Alliance

How can you play a role in achieving this?

We want to amplify your voice. We are seeking video and written submissions from mining community representatives and indigenous people, outlining what it means to you to future-proof mining operations where you live – and what will need to change to ensure that your community thrives and can exist in harmony with local mining operations.

What will you receive?

Video submissions will be featured at the upcoming MI2025 event in Cape Town in February.

Out of all submissions, a panel of community-focused experts will select the most compelling submissions offering free access to the Mining Indaba 2025 event for individuals with outstanding video submissions and up to three individuals to be invited to attend the event in person who will also be considered for speaking engagements contributing to the programme during the event.

Image credit: David Sturmes: Fair Cobalt Alliance