IMPACT has now released its new 2026–2029 National Strategy for Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), which will guide its work over the next four years to advance more responsible, transparent, inclusive, and sustainable management of natural resources.
Aligned with IMPACT’s Global Strategic Plan Enabling Change 2024–2029, the national strategy builds on more than a decade of experience and collaboration with communities, public authorities, civil society organizations, and private-sector actors in DRC.
In a context marked by immense natural wealth, alongside persistent challenges related to governance, transparency, inequality, and environmental degradation, IMPACT aims to help transform natural resources into a driver of peace, equitable development, and sustainable prosperity.
The national strategy places communities at the heart of change. It aims to strengthen the capacity of communities, including women, youth and Indigenous Peoples, as well as public authorities, technical departments within relevant ministries, civil society organizations, and private-sector actors to actively participate in decisions related to natural resource management. This approach is based on the conviction that more inclusive and transparent governance systems are essential to ensuring that the benefits generated by natural resources reach local populations.
Six Strategic Priorities for the 2026–2029 Period
Regulatory and Legal Reform: IMPACT will support local partners in advocating for policies, regulatory frameworks, and fiscal mechanisms that are better suited to the realities of communities and artisanal mining.
Supply Chain Transparency: IMPACT will continue to promote responsible supply chains, strengthen due diligence, and improve access to information on mineral flows, economic actors, and traceability mechanisms.
Environmental Stewardship: In response to climate change and growing pressures on ecosystems, IMPACT will support local initiatives to restore landscapes, preserve biodiversity, and adapt to climate change, while increasing opportunities for women, youth, and Indigenous Peoples to participate in decision making.
Illicit Trade and Financing: The strategy aims to foster a better understanding of the factors that facilitate smuggling, fraud, and illicit financing related to natural resources to promote more lawful, transparent, and equitable trade systems.
Gender Equality: IMPACT will support women in mining and rural communities by advancing gender equality and women’s leadership, expanding their access to financing, economic opportunities, and governance spaces. Gender equality is considered an essential condition for peace, security, and sustainable development.
A More Effective, Inclusive, and Sustainable Organization: IMPACT will continue to invest in its institutional capacity, staff well-being, and collaboration mechanisms to support effective delivery of its work in DRC.
A legacy of concrete actions
The strategy builds on IMPACT’s work in DRC, particularly on traceability of artisanal gold, fiscal transparency in the artisanal gold and cobalt sector, economic empowerment of women, creation of village savings and loan associations (VSLAs), and support for authorities in developing the regulatory framework for artisanal cobalt.
Over the next four years, the strategy aims to reach approximately 15,000 beneficiaries, including local communities, women’s groups, youth, Indigenous Peoples, community associations, and institutional and economic actors involved in natural resource management.
Through its 2026–2029 National Strategy, IMPACT reaffirms its commitment to working alongside communities and partners to build more inclusive, transparent, and sustainable governance systems. By strengthening citizen participation, gender equality, environmental protection, and supply chain transparency, IMPACT is helping to ensure that DRC’s natural resources are no longer a source of vulnerability, but rather a driver of peace, resilience, and sustainable development for present and future generations.
