Cobalt Knowledge Hub

An assessment of two pilot projects (Mutoshi and Kasulo) in the Lualaba province of the DRC with lessons learned for the assessment and monitoring of responsible sourcing programs and of due diligence schemes and possible implications for policy

A research article by academics from the University of Surrey, the University of Groeningen, and the University of Kent Business School and the NGO PACT offering preliminary reflections on the potential impact of COVID-19 on ASM activities with findings and storylines from Mali, Liberia and Ghana.

An illustrative report on Congolese children that were displaced due to the repeated, brutal attacks by militia groups in eastern DRC mentioning the story two child miners in South Kivu

An eight-page document beginning with a factsheet that summarizes local regulations and provides key statistics on gender relations in the DRC under four headings: discrimination in the family, physical integrity, access to productive and financial resources, and civil liberties

A paper endorsed by 60+ civil society organization and laying out the principles that businesses should adopt to avoid causing or contributing to human rights abuses and environmental harm along the battery value chain

An assessment of Covid-19’s impact on ASM and trade of tin, tantalum, tungsten and gold (3TG) in eastern DRC, that analyzes the consequences for the local economy and the security situation in mining areas

A reactive dashboard enabling users to filter for mining site, mineral, number of workers, presence of child labor, and other key figures, graphs, and charts on the ASM sector

The French translation of a report that highlights Glencore’s influence on the DRC government and judiciary through two examples, a deadly accident and a killing, that illustrate the difficulties victims face in seeking justice

The English summary of a report that highlights Glencore’s influence on the DRC government and judiciary through two examples, a deadly accident and a killing, that illustrate the difficulties victims face in seeking justice

A report in German that highlights Glencore’s influence on the DRC government and judiciary through two examples, a deadly accident and a killing, that illustrate the difficulties victims face in seeking justice

A recent issue of the Congo research briefs describing the history of tensions between LSM and ASM in Southeastern DRC and tying the repressive actions to the fluctuating demand for cobalt as part of the ‘green revolution’

An assessment of ASM’s (across minerals) impacts on the SDGs arguing that formalization of the sector can help mitigate ASM’s negative impacts and amplify its positive impacts on the SDGs

A thorough review of the evidence around sexual and gender-based violence in the mining sector in Sub-Saharan Africa, with a particular focus on the DRC, South Africa, Tanzania and Uganda

An independent expert assessment of three pilot projects that seek to formalize ASM of cobalt in the DRC which identifies actions to eliminate human rights violations in cobalt sourcing and provides recommendations on how to integrate human rights standards into business operations

A report on the corporate policies of the leading battery manufacturers that identifies the serious problems and risks in raw material supply chains and highlights action areas

A factsheet that summarizes a lengthy report on the corporate policies of the leading battery manufacturers and the serious problems and risks in their raw material supply chains

A report on the dynamics around the forceful eviction of 10,000 miners from industrial mining sites by security forces in 2019; through three case studies, it identifies opportunities for de-escalation and makes recommendations to the government

An article examining the need for general reforms to improve ASM in the DRC and describing the specific problems of ASM in areas such as Lualaba with recommendations for how to ensure respect for the human rights of artisanal miners

A technology report that identifies and discusses recent developments in electric mobility by combining historical analysis with projections to 2030

A report commissioned by Fairphone, Signify and Huayou Cobalt that reviews and assesses the working conditions at the Kasulu and Kamilombe ASM sites, the state of children’s rights and the livelihood activities and opportunities in the local economy

A report authored by academics from Leiden University providing geographic data and a network visualization of the factors that render the cobalt supply chain highly susceptible to disruptions and recommending the diversification of cobalt production.

An academic paper based on original field data from the DRC explaining migration and migration decisions in relation to ASM and DRC mining reforms, illustrating the different motives of women migrants and concluding that women find a degree of protection in mining areas and some succeed in creating new sources of revenue

A reporting framework for companies in the cobalt industry to align their processes with global standards on responsible mineral supply chains such as the OECD Guidelines

A report on the future of the electric vehicle (EV) industry, its impact on climate change, and the implications for players in the EV market, including battery manufacturers

A dashboard reporting the results of the largest coordinated ASM data collection initiative based on 2,500 surveys conducted to assess the impacts of Covid-19 on selected ASM communities (includes a short video)

An interactive map that provides key visuals for ASM sites in the DRC and allows filtering for mineral, army presence, government agency presence, visit year and number of miners

An easy-to-use tool developed by and for local stakeholders and available in 13 languages, intended to be used when entering into dialogue with mining companies on health, safety and environmental matters

A report prepared by American University students for the US Department of Labor outlining the implications of the COVID-19 pandemic on ASM in the cCopperbelt region

A technical report identifying and quantifying potential risks in battery supply chains at mining stage, assessing the impact of current initiatives on the ground including the Mutoshi and Kasulo pilot projects and proposing a methodology that could be replicated for other materials and sectors

A workshop report presenting the challenges and risks for the EU Regulation for the DRC and Colombia and key recommendations to EU policy and decision-makers

A report commissioned by Trafigura that highlights the local economic impact of the Mutoshi pilot project which aimed at formalizing ASM in the DRC

A working paper co-funded by the EU that is based on 140+ key informant interviews and site visits, describes the cobalt and copper supply chain structures, and identifies risks, related adverse impacts, and five areas for action for the DRC government, companies and other stakeholders to build responsible supply chains

An insight report that provides a vision about how batteries can contribute to sustainable development, underscores the necessity of a systemic approach across all dimensions, outlines key conditions and makes recommendations to realize the vision.

A paper that analyses China’s Going Out Strategy to secure natural resources including cobalt, estimates China’s ownership-share of foreign production for cobalt mine and intermediate material and indicates concerns related to cobalt availability and supply risk for other countries

A report on the Swiss agricultural commodity trade, the human rights violations related to these activities and the lack of regulation in Switzerland to address such violations.

An academic report on Nigerian mining industry that focuses on gold mining, touches on attempts by other African governments to formalize ASM, and describes emerging international best practices

A comparative analysis of existing ASM standards for cobalt and supply chain certification schemes that identifies best practices to ensure sustainability in future supply chains

A report on DRC’s human rights practices with references to government efforts to redirect child labor away from artisanal mines including in the cobalt sector.

A policy report based on surveys conducted in 150 ASM communities in the copperbelt of the DRC that focuses on the prevalence, forms and causes of child labor and the organization of ASM cobalt supply chain.

A paper on the dynamics and impact of informal artisanal and small-scale mining in sub-Saharan Africa, focusing on the case of Niger

A federal council report that assesses Switzerland’s position in the commodity trading industry with sections on commodities sourced from developing countries, demand and price forecasts and risks to Swiss companies

A research report on the observance of the CCCMC Guidelines by Chinese companies established in the DRC with a specific focus on CNMC Huachin Mabende, a company mining copper and cobalt in Lubumbashi

A report that provides observations and recommendations from within the DRC, highlighting the perspectives of local stakeholders including miners, domestic traders, civil society and local governments

A report in French published as part of the Universal Periodic Review of the DRC by the UN Human Rights Council

A report exploring how the transition to a low-carbon economy could affect fragility, conflict, and violence dynamics in mineral-rich states with several case studies including one from the cobalt context in the DRC describing the mineral profile, country context and current conflict implications.

A research report assessing the community-based child protection model that GS sisters implemented in the DRC in 2013-18, with recommendations for the future of the program and a discussion on replication possibilities

An assessment of concentration issues and risk of disruption in the global cobalt supply chain with supply and demand projections and various tables and infographics describing the EV and cobalt markets

A research article by academics from the University of Surrey, the University of Groeningen, and the University of Kent Business School and the NGO PACT offering preliminary reflections on the potential impact of COVID-19 on ASM activities with findings and storylines from Mali, Liberia and Ghana.

A report on child labor in the DRC with sections on the prevalence of child labor, legal framework, enforcement of laws, government efforts and policies, social programs, and suggested government actions to eliminate child labor.

A country plan for the DRC that summarizes UK’s strategic objectives and priorities to sustain peace and reduce poverty in the DRC, identifies key challenges facing the country, and introduces the programmes that aim to implement UK’s development objectives

A guide for companies to identify, mitigate and account for the risks of child labor in their mineral supply chains that builds on the 2013 OECD Due Diligence Guidance for Responsible Supply Chains of Minerals

A ranking of the largest companies in the consumer electronics and jewelry retail industries based on their practices for responsible sourcing of 3TG from the DRC

A policy report based on surveys conducted in 150 ASM communities in the copperbelt of the DRC that focuses on the prevalence, forms and causes of child labor and the organization of ASM cobalt supply chain.

A report that was prepared by International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED) for the IGF, which defines formalization of ASM, provides key ASM numbers, introduces alternative livelihood and mineral certification initiatives for ASM, and explains ASM-LSM relations

An investigative report on the pollution of the environment by Sicomines, a Chinese investment project, in Kolwezi, DRC

The follow-up report to the 2016 investigative report exhibiting the actions and inactions by corporate players in the Congolese cobalt industry to tackle abuses in the global cobalt supply chain

A toolkit designed to assist companies in mining sector to identify key child rights issues and develop management systems, strategies and performance indicators

A research report funded by the EU and based on fieldwork that highlights various human rights violations in relation to certain LSM operations in the DRC with a list of companies investigated, describes the copper and cobalt markets, and makes recommendations to stakeholders

A four-page factsheet based on three reports published by SOMO, Amnesty International and Friends of the Earth Netherlands

The 2016 annual report of the Chamber of Mines of the DRC with sections on production data, market trends, business climate, and corporate social responsibility in relation to various minerals mined in the DRC

A briefing paper that enumerates the risks associated with DRC’s cobalt production, explains trends in company responses to such risks and provides a road map for companies looking to mitigate their risk

An investigative report revealing human rights abuses, including child labor, in the DRC that power the global cobalt trade

A brochure that documents the human and environmental costs of cobalt extraction in Katanga, DRC with an in-depth explanation of cobalt’s importance in the electronics supply chain, specific stories to highlight violations and pollution, and a call to mining companies to take action

The 2015 annual report of the Chamber of Mines of the DRC with sections on mineral production data, business climate, corporate social responsibility and comparisons between Peru, Zambia and the DRC

A guide into the DRC mining industry with a wide range of data on regulatory, economic, and business environments, labor conditions, key commodities, and major mining operations

A list of principles and guidelines to guide Chinese companies engaged in overseas mining investment and cooperation in improving corporate social responsibility and sustainability strategies

A research report based on interviews and surveys conducted at seven 3T mines in Katanga, which identifies the factors and the context of child labor in mining and aims to inform the design and implementation of an appropriate intervention program.

A guidance for companies in the 3TG supply chains with a five-step framework for risk-based due diligence, a model supply chain policy, and suggested measures for risk mitigation and improvement in measuring with supplements specific to each mineral group

An evaluation of efforts to formalize ASM in the DRC and Rwanda with a focus on the 3Ts sector in order to provide insights to inform the timber industry

An overview of the cobalt industry, factors affecting mineral supply, and circumstances surrounding the lack of development of key mineral properties

A working paper that examines the effects of Section 1502 of the Dodd-Frank Act which created a de facto ban on Congolese mineral exports and recommends actions to allow Congolese artisanal miners to earn a living

The DRC’s national action plan for 2012-2020 submitted to the ILO

A comprehensive study on the socio-economic consequences of ASM cobalt in Katanga with subsections on Congolese and global cobalt markets, the cobalt supply chain that discusses each stakeholder group and the impact of ASM cobalt on workers, local communities, and society

An extensive research report based on field consultations that describes the Promines Study, the governance and management of the Congolese ASM sector, trade channels and markets, the relevant tax regime, and human rights and health issues in ASM sector

An extract from the 2008 African Economic Outlook that presents a comprehensive analysis of the economic, social, and political developments in the DRC.

A research report published as part of a European project (makeITfair) aiming to inform young consumers about human rights issues in the production of electronics that illustrates the conditions under which the raw materials for electronics are extracted with a thorough description of the Congolese cobalt context