Beschreibung: The mining sector is central to the economy of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
In 2018, 28.7% of the country's gross domestic product, 98% of its exports and 36.7%
of its government revenues were generated by mining. However, the population does
not adequately benefit from this wealth, e.g., through local value addition or public
spending. Within global value chains, the country is an important supplier of raw
materials such as copper and cobalt, as well as tantalum, tin, tungsten, and gold,
which are strategic for the energy transition. Neither industrial nor artisanal mining
in the DRC is managed sustainably in terms of the three dimensions of sustainability
(economic, environmental, and social), so mining is associated with risks to social
development, health, and the environment. Within the Congolese economy, the mining
sector is hardly integrated into the local economy. The enclave nature of mining means
that the sector's potential for improving incomes and employment is not realised.
The same applies to the collection of taxes from the mining sector. The mining sector
cannot develop its potential for sustainable local development and employment because
it is not sufficiently aligned with sustainability criteria. The overall objective
of the project "Integrated Economic Development in the Mining Sector II" is to improve
environmental, social, and economic sustainability in and around the mining sector
in the provinces of Haut Katanga and Lualaba. Therefore, it works in four areas of
intervention with the following aims for each output: Output 1, Transparency and Participation
aims to improve the capacity of relevant actors to implement policies that promote
social, economic, and environmental sustainability in the mining sector. Support for
civil society engagement will build on existing multi-stakeholder partnerships (Investissements
Durables au Katanga/Kivu - IDAK/IDAKI, Extractives Industries Transparency Initiative)
and the competitive grant initiative for civil society organisations established under
the previous project. The supported organisations expose abuses, collect information,
make it available to the public and engage in dialogue with government and company
representatives. At the local level, they fight corruption by promoting better governance
and strengthening civil society oversight. Selected NGOs and international academic
institutions will be supported to build partnerships with international partners and
to jointly produce and disseminate information on the mining sector, including benchmarking
the social and environmental performance of mining companies. The project's civil
society partner organisations will also act as intermediaries to educate grassroots
groups and individuals in mining communities about their rights and guide them in
improving living conditions in their respective communities. Output 2, Sustainability
in Artisanal Mining, aims to create more sustainable income opportunities for artisanal
miners, either through the introduction of production standards in artisanal mining
or through alternative income opportunities outside of mining. Through the provision
of vocational education and training, business start-up and basic financial training,
residents of mining communities will be supported to pursue professional or entrepreneurial
activities outside of artisanal mining. In order to promote the active participation
of women, the project designs the timing and rhythm of the training activities in
such a way that participation does not conflict with the pursuit of reproductive and
other activities such as field work. In addition to the training approach, civil society
organisations will be supported to regularly monitor and systematically document the
human rights and environmental situation in small-scale mining using a digital application.
Output 3, Strengthening Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) and Promoting
Vocational Training, aims to ensure that trainees and those interested in self-employment
have access to improved, market-driven training opportunities. This is expected to
improve their access to business opportunities in and around the mining sector. The
training and support services for MSMEs and trainees provided under Output 3 will
be developed in collaboration with the private sector. This approach will ensure that
the offer meets the real needs of companies operating in the DRC as future clients
and customers of MSMEs. The support offered under Output 3 will include business development
services, such as advice on business plans and access to finance, as well as networking
with potential clients. Special attention will be given to women entrepreneurs who
wish to transform their existing activities into formal enterprises. Chambers and
(mining) companies will be sensitised to the importance and benefits of improving
women's access to the formal mining sector. In cooperation with training institutions
and partners from the private sector, short-term training with a high practical content,
mentoring, internships, and job fairs will be organised. Output 4, Strengthening domestic
revenues, aims to mobilise resources from the mining sector by strengthening the capacity
of the relevant tax and revenue authorities and their staff. Under Output 4, the relevant
organisational units will receive targeted advice on how to consider the technical
specificities of mining and how to conduct tax audits of mining companies. Selected
staff will receive further training. These activities will be linked to capacity building
within the fiscal and budgetary authorities to estimate expected long-term tax revenues.
Networking between mining authorities and financial and tax authorities will improve
data exchange and thus prevent misreporting of quantities as part of tax avoidance
strategies.