Democratic Republic of Congo
In the Democratic Republic of Congo, vast natural resources in minerals and forestry offer communities the prospect of real economic benefit. But their high value can also attract unregulated exploitation, particularly in the volatile east of the country, rife with political tensions and armed conflicts.
Pact and its partners are going to the root of the problem, helping forest and mining communities and their families to organize and develop dependable sources of income.
In the mining sector, Pact works in partnership with government, industry and civil society to help ensure that minerals make it to international markets without interference, promoting development rather than conflict.
The bar code on this mineral tag contains detailed data on every point of the supply chain.
In the Great Lakes Region, Pact participates in minerals due diligence mechanism called iTSCi. The program started in 2011 in Katanga and Rwanda, and was extended in 2012 to the provinces of South Kivu and Maniema. At the end of 2012, more than 25,000 artisanal miners were working in mines participating in iTSCi. Communities around mines are able to grow economically and peacefully, thanks to income from the mines as well as the additional economic activity it triggers. For some families, it means being able to send their children to school.
In forest areas, communities organize to have a voice in the management of natural resources. They learn and apply best-practice agricultural techniques to reduce pressure on the forest and increase the duration of land use by crops.