The Challenge
Argentina is an undisputed world leader in production of lithium—a critical mineral input for the batteries expected to power the energy transition. With world-leading resources and several projects advancing toward production, Argentina’s rich lithium reserves present a rich opportunity for economic development. Given the country’s long history of mining, authorities in Argentina understand that more mining can lead to negative impacts that are difficult to manage. Environmental and social impact assessment (ESIA) is a key tool for authorities to identify and manage impacts in the mining sector.
After completing the Gender and Mining Governance e-learning course developed by the IGF and partners in 2020, officials in Argentina’s national Secretariat of Mining conducted a capacity needs assessment of provincial officials who hold mining governance responsibilities in the county. The assessment identified a need to focus on integrating gender equality dimensions into mining ESIAs. With an understanding of how mining can affect men and women differently, Argentina requested support from the IGF to strengthen ESIAs for mining in the country.
Our Role
We developed specialized capacity-building and technical assistance program for key officials at relevant ministries, agencies, and levels of government, including those from lithium-rich provinces like Salta and Catamarca.
We began by organizing a 2-day virtual workshop on integrating gender equality into mining ESIAs. This was supplemented by a deep-dive workshop in late 2022 focused on women’s participation in consultation processes, which are integral to effective and inclusive ESIAs.
Following these workshops, the officials requested more detailed technical assistance to support a new ESIA guideline to help the authorities identify gender-differentiated effects and develop equitable mitigation approaches. The guideline had to be crafted carefully to promote its adoption in mining provinces, so the IGF organized a participatory workshop in 2023 to engage directly with officials involved in ESIA review and approvals in various provinces.
Participatory IGF workshop in Argentina in 2023
Our Impact
Following these engagements, and with the support of the IGF, the national Secretariat of Mining developed a detailed guideline for incorporating gender dimensions into mining ESIAs. The guideline is designed to help mining policy-makers and regulators be more inclusive by considering how environmental and social impacts affect men and women differently, depending on their roles, needs, and vulnerabilities within their communities.
In lithium-rich Salta province, the government issued a resolution reflecting the IGF’s activities by incorporating gender perspectives into impact assessments and requiring that project proponents include gender considerations in environmental impact statements. This development demonstrates how the IGF’s work empowered provincial officials by providing actionable knowledge that led to new policies that could set a precedent for other provinces to follow.
“As the Government of Salta, we promote mining that reflects our commitment to sustainable and inclusive development, integrating innovative standards such as the gender perspective in environmental impact assessments. We lead the energy transition, taking advantage of strategic resources such as lithium and strengthening our communities with a responsible and transformative vision. This approach has been enriched by collaboration with international organizations such as the IGF, which have contributed to strengthening our public policies,” said Romina Sassarini, Secretary of Mining, Government of Salta.
In lithium-rich Catamarca province, the IGF’s work is reflected in a 2022 resolution that established new gender-focused requirements for mining impact assessment. This includes requirements to adopt inclusive hiring practices and to raise awareness about inequalities and violence based on gender and sexual orientation. Since the initial resolution, these requirements have been continually strengthened.
“The support provided by the IGF has been of great value to the province of Catamarca. Through training sessions for public officials, we have gained a more detailed understanding of the importance of incorporating a gender perspective into environmental impact assessments. Additionally, awareness has been raised about the significance of implementing a gender perspective into citizen participation processes,” said Yessica Yornet, Director of Mining Promotion and Social Responsibility, Ministry of Mining, Government of Catamarca.
These policy changes represent significant steps toward fostering inclusivity and equity in Argentina’s mining sector amid rising demand for critical minerals in the energy transition. Beyond equipping officials to incorporate gender-specific considerations into ESIAs, these developments imparted transferrable skills and knowledge that paved the way for broader shifts toward sustainable and inclusive practices and better outcomes in mining-affected communities.