Luanda – Angolan Vice-President, Esperança da Costa, on Thursday discussed with representatives of African women's associations in geosciences, issues related to strengthening cooperation between the countries of the Southern African Development Community (SADC), with emphasis on gender empowerment in mining.
Speaking at the end of the audience, the SADC Association of Women in Mining representative, Namesto Ntsosa-Carr, announced the intention to create a federation at the level of the region to bring together the associations of women miners.
The secretary of State for Science, Technology and Innovation, Alice de Ceita e Almeida, on her turn, defended the need for professionals in the field to be equipped with up-to-date knowledge on new technologies.
She encouraged women geoscientists from different branches of activity to remain commited to this field, with innovative practices that have a direct impact on society.
The President of the African Association of Women in Geosciences, Errami Ezzouva, emphasised the importance of the meeting, stressing that it served to review aspects related to the empowerment of women in geosciences.
The head of the African Association of Women in Geosciences in Angola, Esperança dos Santos, was also received by the Vice-President of the Republic.
Angola hosts the 10th International Conference of the African Association of Women in Geosciences in August to be attended by different national and foreign participants.
The event aims to improve the scientific and social inclusion of women, attracting them to careers in geosciences, so that the implementation of global programmes such as the "2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development", "Paris Agreement on Climate Change" and "Agenda 2063 - The Africa We Want" is possible.