Conflict Management and Artisanal Mining

Name: Conflict Management and Artisanal Mining
Durations: May 1, 2007 – June 30, 2008
Donors: Anvil Mining
International Finance Corporation
Katanga Mining Limited
Nikanor
Tenke Fungurume Mining
United States Agency for International Development

As the government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo seeks to attract international investment to more efficiently develop natural resources and return revenues to the state, conflict between the new commercial, foreign, actors and the subsistence diggers and entrenched illegal/informal traders is simmering. The Conflict Management and Artisanal Mining project aims to address this issue through the development of a long-term and comprehensive plan for artisanal mining in Kolwezi, which identifies the needs, capacities, resources and constraints in the private and public sectors and supports integrated social and small/large scale commercial investments for the long-term development of the region.

Six main focus areas are envisaged to assist artisanal miners in the Kolwezi area to participate in a peaceful, economically viable and sustainable transition from current illegal activities. The project will:

Research the potential of these interventions and will present a realistic plan for their development:

Rehabilitation of roads with the potential for labor-intensive and efficient road construction technology and maintenance
Mine employment including basic training programmes in anticipation of employment in modern mining operations
Mine supply contracts for micro-enterprise for bricks, roofing, fencing, gravel making and other relevant products and services with flexible and open-ended business counseling and training, including linkages with sources of micro-finance credit.
Co-habitation of safe, fair artisanal mining
Livelihood alternatives in agriculture and micro-enterprise including a specific emphasis on support for women
Appropriate vocational and alternative education opportunities for children for whom formal education is not currently an option.