USAID Zahabu Safi and Black in Jewelry Coalition Connect Black Women Working Across Jewelry Supply Chain

On April 14, 2021, the USAID Zahabu Safi (Clean Gold) Project co-hosted a virtual event with the Black in Jewelry Coalition to facilitate conversations between Black women working across the jewelry supply chain: mine to market. Titled “Sister to Sister”, the event connected women working on the front lines in the mining industry in DRC, with jewelry buyers and designers in West Africa, Europe, and the US to share information with each other about their respective business/livelihood opportunities and challenges.

The event was moderated by BIJC members, Lotanna Amina Egwatu, Creative Director and Principal at Mina Stones and Patricia Mweene, Founder and Creative Director, INONGE ZITA Jewellery/ Gemstone Value Chain Specialist.  Fellow panelists included  Dr. Njanju Namazuba Zuzu, President of the Mineral Cooperative of Ukingo (Luhihi, South Kivu, DRC); Huguette Kaleba Ngoie Kasongo, co-founder of SOGECOMI, a social enterprise whose goal is to improve the lives and wellbeing of mining communities in DRC through responsible sourcing and export of minerals ; and Ella Mindja, Zahabu Safi Project Officer and Community Liaison.

The event featured over 70 live participants, with 130 total registrants, who will receive a recorded version of the event.  With simultaneous translation provided, this event bubbled with energy and curiosity, as both the panelists and moderators talked about tangible opportunities for collaboration.