LocationsWomen Driving Value Addition in Zambia’s Gemstone Sector
Beyond Extraction
January 30, 2026
Hands-on learning in action: a beneficiary applies gemstone grading skills during practical training at the Gemstone Processing and Lapidary Training Centre in Ndola.
UNDP Zambia/Cecilia Mubambe
Zambia’s mining story has long been defined by copper. Yet beneath the surface of this narrative lies another powerful contributor to the national economy the gemstone sector. From world-renowned emeralds to amethysts and garnets, Zambia’s gemstones hold immense economic potential, particularly when value addition is prioritized. Despite the sector’s profitability, women remain significantly underrepresented, especially in higher-value activities such as gemstone cutting, polishing, jewellery production and marketing. Structural barriers including limited access to skills training, modern equipment, finance and markets have restricted women’s participation and growth within the gemstone value chain.
It is against this backdrop that the ACP-EU Development Minerals Programme, implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) through the Ministry of Mines and Minerals Development (MMMD), is making a deliberate investment in women-led value addition.
Through a four-week intensive training programme, UNDP in collaboration with Women in Extractives, Trade and Value Addition Association of Zambia (WETVAAZ) and the Gemstone Processing and Lapidary Training Centre (GPLTC), trained 30 women and youth from across Zambia in gemstone identification, value addition and jewellery production. The training programme, which ran from 5th January to 30th
January 2026, culminated in a graduation and product showcase at the training Centre in Ndola.
With ages ranging from 17 to 75, the women and youth participants expressed great enthusiasm and pride in taking part and ultimately showcasing their newly acquired and enhanced skills. For many, limited technical knowledge and practical experience had previously constrained their effective participation in the gemstone sector. Through hands-on training, these challenges were addressed, making a turning point in their ability to confidently engage in gemstone value addition.
Speaking at the graduation ceremony Ndola District Commissioner Precious Njekwa said “the programme aligns strongly with the policy direction of the Ministry of Technology and Science, which has consistently emphasized the need for hands-on skills delivery in line with the Eighth National Development Plan. The ministry is spearheading the shift towards competency-based education and training in the Tevet sector, where learners are assessed on demonstrated skills rather than theory alone.”
“The training we celebrate today is a clear example of this shift in practice. it reflects curriculum alignment with national reforms and responds directly to industry needs particularly in the artisanal and small-scale mining sector,” said Ms Njekwa.
Group photo of the beneficiary after the graduation ceremony
UNDP Zambia/Cecilia Mubambe
Beneficiary, Dyness Kayula, highlighted the impact of the training on gemstone classification and pricing, she said “Before, we didn’t know how to classify stones but
now we are able to classify them and know the amount of light that should pass through a given gemstone.”
Ms Kayula said without the training, most used to sell products that were considered useless and of low grade at a higher price. After the training, they will be able to price products properly that benefit both the buyer and seller.
Also speaking at the graduation ceremony UNDP Resident Representative Dr James Wakiaga represented by Assistant Resident Representative Gregory Saili, emphasized that empowering women in value addition is both an economic and social imperative.
“Zambia’s gemstone sector holds enormous potential beyond extraction. By equipping women with practical skills in gemstone cutting, polishing and jewelry production, we are not only improving livelihoods but also strengthening local value chains and ensuring that women are active participants in the country’s mining transformation,” said Dr Wakiaga.
Gemstone cutting and polishing are not merely technical processes, they are transformative steps that significantly increase the market value of raw stones and open doors to regional and international jewellery markets. When women are equipped with these skills, the impact goes beyond individual livelihoods to local economic development, job creation and stronger representation of Zambia in the global gemstone industry.
“Through initiatives such as the ACP-EU Development Minerals Programme, the Mining Environmental Governance Programme and the Supplier Development Programme, UNDP remains committed to supporting government efforts that contribute to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals while ensuring no one is left behind,” Dr Wakiaga noted.
“The endurance and resilience demonstrated by the women throughout this training is commendable. We encourage the graduates to put these skills to use, grow their enterprises and pass on the knowledge to their cooperatives and associations,” said Dr Wakiaga. “UNDP remains committed to continued collaboration to strengthen the ASM sector in Zambia.”
Meanwhile Women in Extractives, Trade and Value Addition Association of Zambia (WETVAAZ) Chairperson Pauline Sialumba Mundia said “These skills will enable youths and women to penetrate the international market profitably and competitively with the required confidence.”
By investing in women-led gemstone value addition, Zambia is taking a critical step toward inclusive growth one where women are not just participants, but leaders in shaping the future of the mining sector. As the graduates take their place in the
industry, they carry with them not only new skills, but the promise of stronger livelihoods, empowered communities and a more diversified mining economy.
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