Oxfam Bridges the Gap at Alternative Mining Indaba
For Oxfam, the fight for a just world begins with the people whose lives are most impacted by the systems of that uphold the current power structure. As a feminist organization, Oxfam works in solidarity with the most marginalized to transform the systems that keep people in poverty, ensuring that every individual can live with dignity. This commitment to Feminist Climate Justice and Just Economies is what brings Oxfam to the heart of Cape Town this February.
While mainstream African Mining Indaba often focuses on investment and extraction, the Alternative Mining Indaba (AMI) 2026 tells a story of resistance and hope. Happening from 9–11 February 2026, in Cape Town, the AMI serves as a space to challenge top-down frameworks by centering the lived truths of mining-affected communities across the continent.
For more than a decade, the AMI has been a sanctuary for grassroot communities, civil society, and faith-based organizations to challenge dominant narratives. In 2026, the event returns to its roots with the theme “Alternative Stories of Mining,” replacing traditional conference structures with workshop spaces, drama, and exhibitions that speak directly to state actors and investors.
OXFAM SIDE EVENTS
To strengthen our Feminist Climate Justice work, on the 9th of February, Oxfam is hosting a critical side event at this year’s AMI, focusing on community-led alternative energy solutions being championed by organizations on the ground in Gauteng and Mpumalanga. This isn’t a new journey for Oxfam. It builds on the foundation laid during South Africa’s G20 moment, where we made sure community voices were heard in the Just Energy Transition (JET) and climate justice conversations through Working Group 14 and our extensive community roadshows.
The objective of our Side Event at AMI is clear: to showcase that grassroots innovation is already shaping a more equitable and sustainable energy future. By centering community-led ideas in the conversation on the JET, we challenge the idea that energy planning should only happen in boardrooms.
In addition to this event, Oxfam will also host another side event titled: Securing Critical Mineral Corridors: Lessons from the Field. This side event will be hosted on Tuesday, 10 February. Drawing on frontline experience and international best practice, the panel explores the governance, human rights and fiscal terms required to secure critical mineral supply chains.
As part of our commitment to capacity building, Oxfam South Africa is proud to support partners from the JET Extractives group to attend this engagement. By facilitating their attendance, OZA acts as a bridge, placing local leaders in a high-level space where they can voice their challenges and successes directly to a global audience.
This engagement is directly aligned with the OZA Strategic Framework. By centering community innovation, OZA is ensuring that the transition to a green economy is not only sustainable but also just, feminist, and inclusive of the people who have historically been left behind by the mining sector.
Follow our journey at AMI 2026 and learn how you can stand in solidarity with the communities shaping South Africa’s future. Follow our social media channels from 9–11 February for live updates and stories directly from the ground in Cape Town.
