Aida Diop

Aida is a trained geologist and a seasoned expert with over 15 years of experience in the governance of minerals and fossil fuels.

Based in Senegal, she leads the design and delivery of country-level priorities in alignment with broader organizational strategy. She supports the government, civil society, media, communities, and the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) through technical assistance, capacity building, and policy analysis on hydrocarbon governance, revenue management, and the just energy transition. She has played a pivotal role in shaping public discourse, driving political reforms, and driving high-impact initiatives such as Senegal's Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP) and the development of national methane emissions regulation.

A founding member of Women in Mining (WIM) Senegal and a leading voice in regional and continental networks like WIMOWA and AWIMA, she coordinated the Gender and Advocacy Committee. She also led the development of the ECOWAS Gender Charter for the geo-extractive sector, translating regional strategies into aligned national actions. Her leadership led to the creation of gender-specific indicators, a community-based incubator, and a youth mentorship program in the Senegalese mining sector. She also facilitated the creation of five regional community networks representing over 50,000 women and youth leaders, amplifying their voices in policy and public discourse.

Motivated by her experience as the only woman in her university class, Aida advocates for women's leadership, economic inclusion, and girls' education. Her contributions have earned her global and regional recognitions, including "100 Global Inspirational Women in Mining" (WIM100) in 2020, ranking among the top five in Africa; the Excellence Trophy from the Senegalese Chamber of Mines in 2024 and was the only Senegalese honoree among the 50 Inspiring African Women in Energy by Africa Oil Week.

Aida is an alumna of NRGI's Francophone Africa Regional Extractive Industries Knowledge Hub and the executive course on oil, gas, and mining governance at the University of Oxford's Blavatnik School of Government.