Endeavour mining’s significant economic and social impact in Côte d’Ivoire

Abidjan witnessed a significant announcement regarding Endeavour Mining’s substantial contribution to the Ivorian economy. Between 2021 and 2025, the mining firm injected an impressive 1,710 billion FCFA into Côte d’Ivoire’s national economy. A considerable portion of this, 644 billion FCFA, was remitted to the State through various channels, including taxes, royalties, and dividends, as detailed in the company’s inaugural Country Impact Report dedicated to Côte d’Ivoire.

Titled « Créer de la valeur tangible » (Creating Tangible Value), this comprehensive report was unveiled on Monday, June 29, 2026, at Endeavour Mining’s headquarters in Cocody. It meticulously outlines the achievements of the Ity and Lafigué mines across key areas: economic contribution, community development, and environmental protection initiatives.

Laetitia Gadegbeku-Ouattara, Endeavour’s Vice-President for Public Affairs and Country Director in Côte d’Ivoire, presented the report’s findings. She underscored how the operations at Ity and Lafigué have transformed gold into a genuine « catalyseur de développement durable » (catalyst for sustainable development) over the past five years. Ms. Gadegbeku-Ouattara reiterated the group’s unwavering commitment to fostering a partnership built on mutual trust, transparency, and shared progress within the nation.

Breaking down the 644 billion FCFA directed to the Ivorian State, she specified that 398 billion FCFA originated from taxes, 149 billion FCFA from royalties, and 97 billion FCFA from dividends. Furthermore, the company proudly reported allocating 904 billion FCFA towards procurement from national suppliers, significantly boosting local businesses.

Endeavour Mining stands as a vital employer in Côte d’Ivoire, providing jobs for over 1,350 individuals, with 94% being Ivorian nationals. The company also collaborates extensively with 4,390 service providers and more than 600 local suppliers. This extensive engagement firmly establishes Endeavour as one of the country’s foremost contributors to public revenue and the leading gold producer in Côte d’Ivoire.

In the realm of public health, Ms. Gadegbeku-Ouattara highlighted that over 120,000 people have benefited from the company’s and its foundation’s initiatives focused on prevention, screening, and access to medical care. Notably, the Health Caravans provided free consultations and treatments to nearly 4,000 individuals, while 64 patients received complimentary cataract surgeries.

Dr. Youssouf Koné, the Departmental Health Director for Zouan-Hounien, affirmed the crucial support provided by the partnership with Endeavour in the ongoing fight against malaria, benefiting communities residing near the Ity mine.

Educational advancements have also been a priority, with over 4,000 children and young people participating in the company’s educational programs between 2021 and 2025. Additionally, 842 students completed practical internships, gaining invaluable experience. Key human capital development initiatives include « Élites de Demain » (Tomorrow’s Elites), « Jeunes Filles en Scolarité » (Young Girls in School), and « Pépites d’Or » (Gold Nuggets).

The report further detailed an investment exceeding 2.8 billion FCFA in community infrastructure. These funds facilitated 71 projects aimed at improving access to potable water and enhancing security, the rehabilitation of 16 roads benefiting over 360,000 people, the implementation of 10 rural electrification projects, and the provision of 1,000 driving licenses to promote youth professional integration.

Economically, over 3,000 individuals have benefited from 284 income-generating initiatives, backed by 487 million FCFA in funding, with a deliberate focus on empowering women and youth. The « N’Goto Yetehe » program, for instance, successfully trained 63 young people in eight different trades in Lafigué, fostering local skill development.

Environmentally, Endeavour demonstrated its commitment to sustainability by planting over 158,000 trees and protecting or restoring 199 hectares of land between 2021 and 2025. Notable actions include the « Un enfant, un arbre » (One Child, One Tree) program, conducted with schools, and the restoration of 125 hectares of classified forests in collaboration with SODEFOR. The company’s « Vers Zéro Plastique » (Towards Zero Plastic) strategy achieved remarkable success, eliminating over 1.3 million single-use plastic bottles, marking a 99% reduction in just three years.

The Côte d’Ivoire Impact Report 2021-2025 was presented to host communities of the Ity and Lafigué mines. The event saw the presence of administrative authorities, territorial collectives, customary leaders, as well as representatives from youth and women’s groups, and steering committees for mining projects, underscoring a commitment to broad stakeholder engagement.

Endeavour Mining is recognized as a premier global gold producer and holds the top position in West Africa. The group operates active mines in Sénégal, Côte d’Ivoire, and Burkina Faso, while also advancing several exploration projects within the prospective Birimian greenstone belt. Its shares are publicly traded on the London and Toronto Stock Exchanges under the symbol EDV.