About Cobalt for Development
All the images displayed on this website are real and not always compliant with the C4D standards.
Cobalt for Development (C4D) is piloting an approach to improve the conditions of artisanal miners and their communities in the Democratic Republic of Congo. A majority of the world’s cobalt reserves are located in the southern area of DR Congo, specifically the Lualaba Province. Up to 20% of Congolese cobalt is mined artisanally by 50,000 to 150,000 self-employed miners.
While this labour-intensive form of cobalt mining is a primary source of income for the region, the working conditions are oftentimes extremely precarious, with little to no safety or environmental precautions in place.
In cooperation with local artisanal mining cooperatives, government authorities and civil society organizations, the project intends to establish legal, safety, and environmental measures that consequently improve the health and working conditions at artisanal mines as well as protect the environment. Furthermore, Cobalt for Development also supports surrounding villages to increase the economic and social well-being of not just the miners but the whole community.
Our approach in C4D
C4D has initiated a novel approach that intends to improve the working and living conditions of artisanal miners, their families, and communities with a long-term and sustainable perspective. The project works both in communities and mine sites as they are closely intertwined and impact each other in a variety of aspects. In cooperation with the government authority SAEMAPE, C4D created interactive training materials and methods that underpin the project’s capacity development approach. Trainings are accompanied by continuous on-site coaching, during which the project provides mining cooperatives and artisanal miners with technical assistance and material support. The project’s flexible, modular approach is designed to be replicated and scaled across mining sites and communities to sparking engagement with responsible mining practices and ensure that cobalt mining contributes to communal development. Both the mine sites and the communities around them.
Cobalt for Development is present in:
C4D, with its implementing partner Artisanact, has initiated a novel approach that intends to improve the working conditions of artisanal miners with a long-term and sustainable perspective. In cooperation with the government authority SAEMAPE, C4D created interactive training materials and methods that underpin the project’s capacity development approach. Trainings are accompanied by continuous on-site coaching, during which the project provides mining cooperatives and artisanal miners with technical assistance and material support. The project neither operates the artisanal mines nor does it purchase or sell cobalt.
C4D with its implementing partner Good Sheperd continues implementing its activities in the village of Kisote, following the signature of an a agreement committing both side to actively contribute to implement all project activities to sustainably improve living conditions. The project activities have been extended to the neighbouring villages of Tshikopo and Kitanika.
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as of November 2021
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Businesses started from saving groups
Towards responsible artisanal cobalt mining in the DR Congo
Leveraging artisanal cobalt mining to strengthen local development
C4D is implemented by GIZ as well as the local NGO partners Bon Pasteur and Artisanact. Project activities do not just target the mine site but also surrounding communities to bring about holistic change.
In cooperation with SAEMAPE, C4D developed interactive training materials and methods to improve working conditions at artisanal mine sites. The project trained 14 mining cooperatives in the province of Lualaba and is currently working at multiple mine sites and in surrounding communities to provide practical solutions to challenges experienced by miners and their families.
Challenges: Cost and quality of education.
Solutions: Rehabilitation of existing facilities, new 7-classroom building, pedagogy training for teachers, ensure primary education is free (as per law).
Access to education
Challenges: limited availability of attractive livelihood options.
Solutions: Farming trainings to reinforce agriculture as livelihood, business plan support to create new opportunities, vocational training.
Alternative livelihoods
Challenges : Very little savings, spending often not aligned with household priorities.
Solutions: Financial literacy training, savings groups.
Household budget management
Challenges: Frequent accidents, lack of PPE, weak technical capacities.
Solutions: Technical training & coaching, provision of adequate PPE, adherence to maximum depth of tunnels, prevention of galleries, reinforcement of pits.
Health and safety at ASM sites
Challenges: Weak oversight capacities, water, soil and air pollution.
Solutions: Technical training & coaching, no washing of ore off-site, washing in sealed basins, adequate storage of mining waste, spraying of water to prevent dust.
Environmental management at ASM sites
Challenges: Insufficient knowledge of relevant norms, weak enforcement, child labour.
Solutions: Technical training & coaching, effective access controls, strict zero child labour policy, strengthen the cooperative’s management systems.
Compliance with key standards and laws
Why are we engaging with artisanal cobalt mining?
The DR Congo is home to the majority of the world’s cobalt production and reserves. Artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) accounts for up to 20% of Congolese cobalt production and is a primary source of income for the region despite the major risks involved. Up to 100,000 – 200,000 Congolese women and men directly work in artisanal cobalt mining. Counting auxiliary tasks (i.e. transport, commerce, restaurants, etc.) and families of miners, more than one million people depend on artisanal cobalt mining, making it one of the region’s main livelihoods.
As such, ASM holds significant potential for communal development. If artisanal operations can be improved to ensure compliance with Congolese and international laws and standards, including ASM in global supply chains could have a net positive effect on local development and human rights. Therefore, while artisanal cobalt mining is linked to certain supply chain risks, it is also a great opportunity to boost local development.
