De Beers and WomEng: Forging a Path to a More Equitable and Sustainable Future Through STEM
On International Women’s Day, a day dedicated to celebrating the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women, De Beers Group proudly announced a significant extension of its impactful partnership with WomEng. This renewed collaboration, spanning an additional three years, marks a pivotal step in De Beers’ commitment to fostering diversity and inclusion within the crucial fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). The expanded reach of this partnership now encompasses all four nations where De Beers conducts its diamond recovery operations – Botswana, Namibia, South Africa, Canada, and the UK – underscoring a global dedication to empowering women and girls. A heightened focus will also be placed on guiding and supporting them towards fulfilling careers in sustainability-related disciplines, directly aligning with the urgent global need for climate solutions and responsible resource management.
This strategic alliance with WomEng is instrumental in De Beers Group’s ambitious ‘Building Forever’ sustainability goals, particularly its target to engage 10,000 girls and women in STEM by 2030. The underrepresentation of women in these fields remains a persistent global challenge, making initiatives like this indispensable for fostering a more balanced and innovative future workforce. By investing in the development of young female talent, De Beers is not only working towards its own diversity objectives but also contributing to a broader societal shift that recognizes the invaluable contributions women bring to scientific discovery, technological advancement, and sustainable development.
WomEng stands as a globally recognized, multi-award-winning social enterprise with a profound mission: to inspire, engage, and develop girls and women for successful careers in the engineering and technology sectors. Their expertise and proven methodologies have been central to the initial three-year partnership with De Beers, which primarily focused on nurturing leadership capabilities, fostering innovation, promoting well-being, and enhancing the employability skills of women and girls across Botswana, Namibia, and South Africa. Despite the unprecedented challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, this initial phase achieved remarkable success, reaching over 2,200 students by the close of 2021. This was accomplished through comprehensive programs like GirlEng, designed for school-aged girls, and a robust Fellowship program tailored for women pursuing engineering and technology degrees at university level, providing them with essential support and mentorship.
The newly announced three-year extension signifies a major geographical and programmatic expansion. Beyond its established presence in southern Africa, the partnership will now extend its reach to students in Canada and the United Kingdom, ensuring a wider global impact. Crucially, the scope of WomEng’s programs will also broaden beyond traditional university courses to include vocational and skilled trades. This expansion acknowledges the diverse pathways to careers in STEM and sustainability, recognizing the vital role that skilled trades play in economic development and sustainable practices. Furthermore, a significant emphasis will be placed on future-focused sustainable development topics. This includes critical areas such as renewable energies, circular economy principles, sustainable resource management, and climate solutions, equipping participants with the knowledge and skills vital for addressing the most pressing environmental challenges of our time and shaping a greener economy.
Beyond external outreach, De Beers Group is also committed to fostering internal diversity and inclusion. To this end, the company will roll out WomEng’s acclaimed Emerging Leader Programme within its own business operations. This internal initiative is designed to actively support, retain, and promote women in technical roles across De Beers’ global workforce. It forms a crucial component of De Beers’ commitment to achieving gender parity, a cornerstone of its UN Women HeForShe Alliance pledge. By investing in the career progression of its female employees, De Beers aims to cultivate a workplace where talent is recognized and nurtured irrespective of gender. In a further demonstration of its holistic approach, De Beers will collaborate with WomEng to actively support women-founded engineering and technology businesses within its host countries. These businesses, often at the forefront of innovation, are specifically chosen for their focus on addressing critical sustainability challenges, thereby creating a ripple effect of positive environmental and social impact while empowering female entrepreneurship.
Katie Fergusson, Senior Vice President, Sustainable Impact, De Beers Group, articulated the profound significance of this extended partnership: “Women remain significantly under-represented in engineering and technology fields globally, a disparity that stunts innovation and limits progress. We are absolutely delighted to be building on the success we have already achieved with WomEng, who have consistently proven to be an exceptional partner in our shared journey to achieve mutual goals. By extending and expanding our partnership, we will be able to provide even more talented women and girls with unparalleled access to critical opportunities, invaluable mentorship, and the confidence to pursue truly rewarding careers in these vital sectors. We hold an ambitious commitment to achieve gender parity across our global workforce by 2030, and a key factor in realizing this goal will undoubtedly be fostering greater diversity within the talent pipeline from the ground up. With the programmes now being expanded to include a strong emphasis on sustainability-related fields, we are actively working to build not only a more equitable but also a more sustainable future, perfectly aligning with the ambitious framework of our ‘Building Forever’ goals.”
Naadiya Moosajee, Co-Founder, WomEng, echoed this sentiment, expressing immense enthusiasm for the continued collaboration. “We are ecstatic to continue building on the transformative work we have accomplished through our strategic partnership with De Beers. Supporting diversity, equity, and inclusion within the complex engineering industry necessitates a comprehensive ecosystem approach – one that recognizes the myriad factors influencing women’s participation and success. It is truly incredible to work with a partner like De Beers, who not only deeply understands this holistic perspective but also actively supports us in our mission to develop women and girls for bright, impactful futures in this dynamic sector. Together, we are creating pathways and breaking down barriers, ensuring that the next generation of female engineers and technologists are equipped to lead.”
PROGRESS ON DE BEERS’ BUILDING FOREVER COMMITMENTS RELATING TO GENDER EQUALITY AND EMPOWERMENT
As the world observes International Women’s Day, De Beers Group is pleased to provide a comprehensive update on the considerable progress made towards its commitments relating to gender equality. These ambitious pledges, initially announced in November 2020 as integral components of the company’s 12 overarching ‘Building Forever’ sustainability goals, reflect a deep-seated organizational dedication to fostering a more equitable world. The specific goals focused on gender equality are designed to drive transformative change both within the company and in the communities it impacts.
Building Forever Goal: By 2030, we will support 10,000 women entrepreneurs
De Beers is actively working to achieve this crucial goal through the strategic expansion and scaling of the Accelerating Women-Owned Micro-Enterprises (AWOME) programme. This pioneering initiative, which has been successfully implemented in Botswana, Namibia, and South Africa since 2018 in partnership with UN Women, is a testament to the power of collaborative development. Even amidst the profound challenges presented by various lockdowns and the global pandemic, the AWOME programme continued its vital work throughout 2021, providing unwavering support to women as they strived to build and sustain their businesses. To date, this program has reached over 1,800 women micro-entrepreneurs, empowering them with the tools and knowledge needed to thrive. The primary focus during 2021 was on addressing the immediate needs of businesses severely impacted by the pandemic, offering crucial support to help them navigate economic instability and regain momentum. Furthermore, AWOME introduced innovative new offerings to enhance its impact, including a comprehensive training course specifically designed to support women embarking on their entrepreneurial journey. New digital literacy training courses were also introduced, equipping entrepreneurs with essential skills to navigate and succeed in an increasingly digital world. The programme also provides tailored training for entrepreneurs in specific sectors, exemplified by the appointment of an Agriculture Specialist who has been instrumental in supporting more than 132 women farmers participating in the programme in South Africa, boosting their productivity and market access.
Building Forever Goal: By 2030, we will achieve equal opportunity, including gender parity, for employees across our workforce
De Beers has implemented a deliberate and highly focused effort to significantly improve inclusion and diversity across all facets of its business. This comprehensive strategy encompasses a range of progressive initiatives, including the successful launch of reciprocal mentoring programs, a sharpened focus on strategic talent development and robust succession planning, mandatory unconscious bias training for all employees, the establishment of a dedicated Inclusion & Diversity steering group, and a company-wide education campaign designed to foster a more inclusive culture. These concerted efforts have yielded considerable and measurable progress. Notably, the representation of women on De Beers Group’s Executive Committee has seen a remarkable increase, rising from zero per cent in 2017 to an impressive 31 per cent today. In addition, the appointment rate of women to critical leadership roles has surged to 41 per cent, a significant leap from just 22 per cent in 2017. Overall, the representation of women within De Beers Group now stands at 27 per cent, with senior representation reaching 32 per cent – a substantial improvement from 17 per cent in 2017. While progress is being made, the representation of women in STEM-related roles currently stands at 16 per cent, with ambitious targets set to reach 21 per cent by 2025 and a commendable 30 per cent by 2030, demonstrating a clear commitment to fostering female talent in technical fields.
In a further demonstration of its unwavering commitment to gender equality, De Beers announced in 2021 a five-year extension to its global partnership with UN Women. This renewed alliance also saw the appointment of De Beers Group CEO, Bruce Cleaver, as a Champion of the HeForShe Alliance, amplifying the company’s voice and influence in advocating for gender parity globally. The current strategic focus of this strengthened partnership is squarely on increasing the representation of women in technical and leadership roles across De Beers Group. This is being achieved through the enhancement of existing talent development and succession programmes, alongside the extension of specialized training and awareness initiatives, all designed to dismantle barriers and create pathways for women’s advancement. Moreover, De Beers launched ‘CountYourSelfIn’, an innovative initiative aimed at improving understanding of workforce demographics and providing bespoke support to employees in their home and work lives, recognizing the importance of work-life integration. Complementing this, a progressive ‘Recognising and Responding to Domestic Violence’ policy was also introduced, providing crucial support and resources to colleagues who are survivors of domestic violence, underscoring De Beers’ commitment to employee well-being and safety.
About WomEng
WomEng is an acclaimed social enterprise with a singular, powerful mission: to develop and empower women and girls for thriving careers within the engineering and technology industries. Since its inception in 2006, WomEng has established a formidable global presence, working across 24 countries to strategically support partners in achieving their diversity and inclusion mandates. WomEng’s comprehensive approach spans the entire educational and professional lifecycle. At the foundational level, it actively works on the attraction of young girls into engineering through its dynamic GirlEng programme, complemented by the Ambassador programme which aims to support an astounding 1 million girls through inspiring STEM education initiatives. At the university level, WomEng provides invaluable support to women pursuing engineering and technology qualifications, equipping them with key employability skills, fostering innovation-ready mindsets, and preparing them for the demands of the modern workforce. For women already established in the industry, WomEng offers critical leadership development and ongoing support, ensuring their continued growth and advancement. Beyond educational and professional development, WomEng is also a catalyst for female entrepreneurship, operating incubators, accelerators, and venture builders specifically designed to support the development and scaling of businesses founded by women in STEM. With a visionary outlook, WomEng is actively building and strengthening the women in STEM ecosystem, not only across Africa but also on a global scale, creating a powerful network of support, innovation, and empowerment.
About De Beers Group
Established in 1888, De Beers Group stands as the world’s foremost diamond company, renowned for its unparalleled expertise across the entire diamond pipeline, from exploration and mining to marketing. Collaborating with its esteemed joint venture partners, De Beers Group collectively employs more than 20,000 individuals across its global operations and holds the distinguished position as the world’s largest diamond producer by value. The company’s primary mining operations are strategically located in diamond-rich regions including Botswana, Canada, Namibia, and South Africa. Innovation is not merely a department but resides at the very heart of De Beers Group’s overarching strategy. This commitment to innovation drives the continuous development of its prestigious portfolio of brands, which includes the iconic De Beers Jewellers and Forevermark, synonymous with exquisite craftsmanship and timeless beauty. Furthermore, De Beers is at the forefront of pioneering solutions within the diamond industry, exemplified by its recently launched, industry-leading diamond sourcing and traceability initiatives, GemFair and Tracr, which ensure ethical sourcing and transparent journeys for every diamond. Every employee at De Beers Group is deeply committed to the philosophy of ‘Building Forever,’ which represents a holistic and integrated approach to creating a better, more sustainable future for all. This vision is founded on principles that champion a world that is fairer, safer, cleaner, and healthier. Underpinning all operations, safety, human rights, and ethical integrity remain paramount. Through its ‘Building Forever’ framework, De Beers strives to ensure that communities where it operates not only survive but thrive, and that the precious environment is meticulously protected for generations to come. De Beers Group is a proud member of the Anglo American plc group, reinforcing its position as a global leader in responsible and sustainable practices.