81296598-Responsible Sourcing in the Artisanal Cobalt Sector in the DRC

The mining sector is central to the economy of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). In 2018, 28.7% of the country's gross domestic product, 98% of its exports and 36.7% of its government revenues were generated by mining. However, the population does not adequately benefit from this wealth, e.g., through local value addition or public spending. Within global value chains, the country is an important supplier of raw materials such as copper and cobalt, as well as tantalum, tin, tungsten, and gold, which are strategic for the energy transition. Neither industrial nor artisanal mining in the DRC is managed sustainably in terms of the three dimensions of sustainability (economic, environmental, and social), so mining is associated with risks to social development, Health, and the environment. Within the Congolese economy, the mining sector is hardly integrated into the local economy. The enclave nature of mining means that the sector's potential for improving incomes and employment is not realised. The same applies to the collection of taxes from the mining sector. The mining sector cannot develop its potential for sustainable local development and employment because it is not sufficiently aligned with sustainability criteria. The overall objective of the project "Integrated Economic Development in the Mining Sector II" is to improve environmental, social, and economic sustainability in and around the mining sector in the provinces of Haut Katanga and Lualaba. Therefore, it works in four areas of intervention. The project has the following outputs: - Transparency and Participation (Output 1) aiming to improve the capacity of relevant actors to implement policies that promote social, economic, and environmental sustainability in the mining sector by supporting civil society engagement. - Sustainability in Artisanal Mining (Output 2) aiming to create more sustainable income opportunities for artisanal miners, either through the introduction of production standards in artisanal mining or through alternative income opportunities outside of mining. - Strengthening Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) and Promoting Vocational Training (Output 3) aiming to ensure that trainees and those interested in self-employment have access to improved, market-driven opportunities. - Strengthening Domestic Revenues (Output 4) aiming to mobilise resources from the mining sector by strengthening the capacity of the relevant tax and revenue authorities, including their staff.