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Democratic Republic of Congo

Contacts

Yves Bawa

country director
ybawa@pactworld.org

Noel Mondjo

program officer
nmondjo@pactworld.org

Since 2003, Pact has worked on a wide range of development issues in the Democratic Republic of Congo, mostly focused on artisanal and small-scale mining communties. Our work in DRC is helping to make this critical livelihood safer, more formalized and productive, and free of human rights abuses. 

Pact leads field implementation for ITSCI, the International Tin Association’s tin supply chain initiative. ITSCI is the region’s only internationally accepted, operational due diligence mechanism and mineral traceability system for the 3T minerals: tungsten, tin and tantalum. In several DRC provinces as well as in Burundi, Rwanda and Uganda, the system monitors minerals from the point of extraction at mines sites to smelters, where minerals are processed for use in electronics and other everyday devices. This allows tens of thousands of miners to earn a dignified living and build a better future for themselves and their families. 

Pact is also helping communities in DRC to markedly reduce child mining. Launched in 2015, our Children Out of Mining project has worked with local and international partners as well as private-sector companies to address this critical issue. With positive, collective action and an integrated package of interventions designed to address root causes, Pact and its partners have changed attitudes and norms regarding child labor, increased community awareness of children’s rights and helped families find alternative ways to earn income.

In partnership with USAID, Pact is also working to reduce conflict between DRC's Batwa and Baluba people by strengthening conflict mitigation mechanisms and resolution processes for peace-building, and improving livelihoods through social cohesion and collaboration.

Pact’s diverse funding streams in DRC include both public and private sector funding, allowing for a dynamic and holistic portfolio. We work with a wide range of stakeholders including communities, local civil society organizations, industry and national, provincial and local government institutions. 

Stories and Highlights

As a DRC community recovers from conflict, improved rice farming fosters prosperity

April 17, 2023
Tanganyika, in the Democratic Republic of Congo, is a province plagued by inter-community conflict, and the city of Nyemba has not been spared. The Nyemba-Kinsunkulu axis in particular has seen...

In DRC, first aid trainings, outreach help miners improve occupational health and safety

April 5, 2023
Pact works in partnership with governments, industry and artisanal miners to make small-scale mining (ASM) safer, more productive and equitable. In the Democratic Republic of Congo, we’ve been...

Reducing child labor in mining in DRC through economic empowerment

April 3, 2023
Child labor has been reported at 1 in 4 artisanal and small-scall mining (ASM) sites in DRC. Pact is addressing the underlying causes of child labor in mining, including through our WORTH model...

With Pact’s support, a mother in DRC builds peace and fights poverty through farming

March 22, 2023
  Perpetue Ramazani, 45, has long farmed in her rural village in Tanganyika, in the southeast of the Democratic Republic of Congo. But her yields of cassava were barely enough to sustain her and her...

Artisanal miners: A hidden but critical force in the global economy

January 25, 2023
What comes to mind when you hear the term artisanal miner? Unfortunately, there are many misconceptions about artisanal and small-scale miners, including that their work results in largely negative...

Six reasons why industry must end slavery in cobalt supply chains

October 12, 2022
In this Context article, Pact's Amayèle Dia and James McQuilken explore key reasons why it’s time for businesses to understand that it’s not just morally right to tackle modern slavery, it’s good for...

Q&A: How Pact is building sustainable energy access & productive energy use around the globe

September 27, 2022
Globally, more than 1 billion people lack access to reliable, affordable energy. This presents a significant roadblock to development. Pact is working to end energy poverty and build a future in...

Formalization of artisanal mining in DRC

September 1, 2022
In July 2022, Pact staff visited a mine in DRC to evaluate the impacts of our programming in support of the formalization of the artisanal mining sector and sanitation in the artisanal cobalt...

Artisanal and small-scale cobalt mining and the importance of formalization: An explainer with Pact’s Mickaël Daudin

July 25, 2022
A key component in electric car and other rechargeable batteries, the mineral cobalt has recently taken center stage as a commodity critical to the global energy transition. Like other minerals used...

Podcast: Artisanal miners - heroes or villains?

July 21, 2022
Are the products we consume responsible for human and environmental degradation? In this episode of The Natural Resouces Podcast, Pact's Mickaël Daudin discusses artisanal and small-scale cobalt...