Ziva Community Initiative

For , We are celebrating the incredible women who drive our agricultural and mining sectors forward. 🚜💎

We believe that empowering women isn’t just a "nice to do" it’s a prerequisite for sustainable development. When we give women the tools, training, and respect they deserve, the whole community gains:
✅ Stronger economies
✅ Healthier families
✅ Safer mining practices

Tag a woman who inspires you to keep building a better world! 👇

We are thrilled to announce that Ziva Community Initiative is heading to Cape Town for the Investing in African Mining Indaba 2026. As one of the ten selected winners of the Community Voices Video Competition by the Impact Facility and Hyve Group we are honored to bring the authentic, lived experiences of Nigerian artisanal miners to this global stage. Elevating these stories is vital to grounding this year's theme, "Stronger Together: Progress Through Partnership," in the real-world challenges and triumphs of critical mineral regions.

On Tuesday, February 10, we will move beyond corporate strategy to discuss what meaningful partnership looks like in practice during the panel session moderated by Candice Jumwa of the Impact Facility at the Ngorongoro Crater Stage.

We are looking forward to exploring these solutions alongside our very own Maureen Mato and fellow experts Nkosi Sibanda, Alpha Ntayomba, and Dr. Matondo Estrela G. Cardoso, PhD. Together, they will highlight how Ziva's focus on safety and sustainable livelihoods can serve as a model for an inclusive mineral transition that ensures the people at the heart of extraction are no longer left behind.

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As we step into 2026, We do so with renewed commitment to advancing inclusive, evidence driven solutions at the intersection of community development, energy transition, and climate action.

In the year ahead, our work will place strong emphasis on national and subnational policy engagement, building on field research and stakeholder dialogues focused on the role of artisanal and small-scale mining in Nigeria’s low-carbon future. We will continue to advocate for sustainable, climate-smart, and gender-responsive approaches that integrate mining communities into Nigeria’s energy transition agenda.

2026 will also see us deepen our focus on women’s participation and leadership across renewable energy, agriculture, and extractive value chains, recognising the critical role of women in driving resilient livelihoods and just transitions. Our programmes will continue to prioritise community voices, practical policy recommendations, and collaboration between government, civil society, research institutions, and the private sector.

As Nigeria works towards its climate and development commitments, Ziva remains committed to bridging research, policy, and community realities to support reforms that are inclusive, locally grounded, and forward-looking.

We are grateful to our partners, community stakeholders, and supporters whose collaboration makes this work possible. Together, we look ahead to a year of purposeful engagement, strengthened partnerships, and tangible progress.

From all of us at Ziva Community Initiatives, we wish you a productive, impactful, and hopeful New Year.

As we celebrate Christmas, we are reminded of the power of community, compassion, and shared responsibility. This season invites us to pause, reflect, and give thanks for the people and partnerships that make our work meaningful.

We remain deeply grateful for the trust, commitment, and collective effort of our community members, volunteers, partners, and supporters. Your belief in people, possibility, and positive change continues to inspire our work and strengthens our resolve to serve with purpose.

May this Christmas bring peace to our hearts, hope to our communities, and renewed strength as we look toward the new year. Together, we will continue to build pathways for dignity, opportunity, and lasting impact.

From all of us at Ziva Community Initiatives, we wish you a joyful Christmas and a hopeful, fulfilling New Year.

Prof. Iyakwari - On the Dual Power of Renewables at the panel discussion: Strengthening Policy Frameworks and Investments To Drive Gender-Sensitive Renewable Energy Transition.

"Renewable energy has proven capacity in powering sustainable growth in agriculture and mining... Thus, harnessing its full potential in these life-sustaining sectors will be a game changer..."
— Prof. Shekwonyadu Iyakwari, PhD., Federal University of Lafia

This speaks to the core promise of the energy transition: unlocking economic productivity in vital sectors while steadfastly protecting our environment and is the key to sustainable development.

National Policy Dialogue on Increasing Renewable Energy Investments for the Empowerment of Women in Sustainable Agriculture and Lithium Mining in West Africa.

This dialogue marks a key milestone for the IREEWAM Project (Increasing Renewable Energy Investments for Empowerment of Women in Sustainable Agriculture and Mining in West Africa).

The IREEWAM project, implemented in Nigeria and Ghana, has been working to bridge gender gaps by promoting gender-sensitive approaches to renewable energy adoption and investment.

This national dialogue will:
Present key findings and policy recommendations from the IREEWAM project.
Facilitate regional knowledge exchange on gender-sensitive energy policies and financing.
Strengthen multi-stakeholder partnerships to scale women's participation in the renewable energy value chain.

Featuring insights from UN Women Nigeria, a panel discussion with Bartum Energy, government representatives, and CSOs, the event will define actionable pathways for a more inclusive energy transition.

The project is implemented by the IREEWAM Consortium, including and NORPRA, and is funded by .

Follow for updates and the official outcome communiqué.

Ms. R.G. - On Why Inclusion is Strategic at the panel discussion: Strengthening Policy Frameworks and Investments To Drive Gender-Sensitive Renewable Energy Transition.

"Women’s participation in renewable energy is not only a matter of equity, but also a driver of innovation, improved outcomes, and community acceptance."
— Ms. Dolar R.G., Ministry of Science and Technology, Nigeria

Gender inclusion is a strategic imperative for building effective and sustainable energy systems that work for everyone.

The National Policy Dialogue on “Advancing Gender-Sensitive Renewable Energy” aims to rewrite the daily reality for women farmers and miners in West Africa. The dialogue is about ensuring that the clean energy transition directly translates into:

Women miners who no longer having to process minerals by hand with harmful methods, but instead uses cleaner, renewable energy-powered solutions. This means women miners can work without exposure to toxic fumes, process more material faster, and transform mining from a health hazard into a safer, more profitable business.

This work is implemented by CGE Africa and NORPRA, and funded by ACEP. Follow along as we share the key outcomes designed to turn these visions into everyday reality.

Ziva Community Initiative (ZCI) joined stakeholders at Nigeria Mining Week 2025, held at the Abuja Continental Hotel from 13–15 October, as the event marked its 10th anniversary under the theme “Nigerian Mining: From Progress to Global Relevance.” Our participation reflects our commitment to advancing mining-led economic transformation built on value addition, inclusivity, and sustainability.

ZCI took part in the Pre-Conference Roundtable on “Building Nigeria’s Indigenous Junior Mining Sector” and the Women in Mining Side Event themed “Charting a Collective Path Across the Value Chain.” Our Women Cooperative members featured in a panel discussion where they shared real experiences from the Artisanal and Small-Scale Mining (ASM) sector, emphasizing the need to empower women as leaders, innovators, and decision-makers in mining.

By engaging in conversations on policy, finance, gender equity, and local participation, we reinforced our belief that collaboration and community-driven solutions are key to building a resilient and inclusive mining ecosystem. Through our work, ZCI continues to amplify women’s voices, promote gender-responsive governance, and strengthen community participation in Nigeria’s extractive future.

We participated at the Future of Energy Conference (FEC) 2025 in Accra to engage with policymakers, innovators, and investors shaping Africa’s energy transition.

We got the chance to showcase our flagship project; IREEWAM (Increasing Renewable Energy Investments for Women in Agriculture and Mining) and advocated for women-led, community-driven energy solutions that promote inclusivity and sustainability.

The IREEWAM project improves the lives of women by increasing their access to affordable and clean energy, reducing dependence on costly and polluting fossil fuels. For women in agriculture, renewable energy supports irrigation, food processing, and storage boosting productivity and income. For those in artisanal mining, it provides safer, cleaner, and more efficient energy alternatives for their operations.

Our participation opens doors for partnerships and investments to expand access to clean energy in mining and agricultural communities. It strengthens our work in empowering women cooperatives, enhancing productivity, and ensuring communities benefit directly from Africa’s just and inclusive energy transition.

Ultimately, the project enables women to become more economically empowered, resilient to climate impacts, and actively involved in energy and climate policy decision-making, fostering gender equality, sustainable livelihoods, and inclusive climate action in Ghana and Nigeria.

World Humanitarian Day 2025

Theme:
Strengthening Global Solidarity and Empowering Local Communities

This year, Ziva Community Initiative joins the world in recognizing the tireless efforts of local actors driving change in Artisanal and Small-Scale Mining (ASM) communities.
From under-resourced sites in remote towns to women-led initiatives in mining zones, our communities are not just surviving—they’re leading.

At Ziva, we believe humanitarian action starts with respecting local voices, ensuring safety, and building the capacity of those closest to the challenges.

We celebrate:
- Small-scale miners striving for safer, more dignified work
- Women breaking barriers in male-dominated mining spaces
- Community leaders calling for equity and environmental justice
Let’s stand in solidarity with these communities.

Together, we can transform risk into resilience.