MDA was created in 1987 as a job creation wing of NUM and was transformed into a Section 21 non-profit organisation in 1995. The MDA has 21 years of developmental experience in job-creation and small micro and medium enterprises (SMMEs), through facilitation of services and project management.

MDA receives an average donation of R7 million per annum from MIT.

Programming can be divided into four broad elements:

• Skills development for employed and retrenched mine, energy
  and construction workers
• Social development in communities
• Educational support
• SMME development and community economic empowerment