Our Collaborations

For more than 30 years, partnership has been at the heart of IMPACT’s work.

Today, we continue to value our collaborations—with civil society partners and multi-stakeholder allies—and partnership remains an integral pillar of our work.

Civil Society Organizations

Alliance for Responsible Mining

The Alliance for Responsible Mining (ARM) is an international non-profit, established in Colombia which aims to make artisanal mining more responsible. It supports artisanal miners to improve livelihoods and their quality of life. ARM is an implementing partner on the Foundations for Peace project in Burkina Faso.

Club des Volontaires pour l’Appui aux Peuples Autochtones (CVAP)

Club des Volontaires pour l’Appui aux Peuples Autochtones (CVAP) is a non-profit organization in Democratic Republic of Congo’s Ituri Province that promotes indigenous and women’s rights in local communities. IMPACT has partnered with CVAP to carry out sensitization, capacity building, and provide leadership opportunities for women, as well as the indigenous pygmy population in artisanal mining communities in Ituri Province.

Development Research and Social Policy Analysis Center

The Development Research and Social Policy Analysis Center (DRASPAC) is a private non-profit collaborative research centre based in Uganda. Through their research, DRASPAC is informing policy in the areas of education, health, migration, livelihood and sustainable development, and natural resource management in east Africa. IMPACT is partnered with DRASPAC to carry out research examining the role of women and women’s livelihoods in the artisanal mining sector in central and east Africa.

Kimberly Process Civil Society Coalition

The Kimberly Process (KP) Civil Society Coalition is a network of 11 non-governmental organizations in Africa, Europe, and North America who are members of the KP—the international multi-stakeholder initiative that certifies rough diamonds as conflict-free. IMPACT is a founding member of the KP Civil Society Coalition and supports the participation of civil society members in the Coalition’s activities. We invest in capacity building and provide a spotlight to members of the Coalition who are highlighting violations in the diamond supply chain and addressing these challenges.

REAFECOM

The Network for the Empowerment of Women in Mining Communities (REAFECOM) is the first association of women artisanal miners in Democratic Republic of Congo’s Ituri Province. Launched in 2018, the association represents the interests of women miners in their communities. IMPACT is supporting the association’s efforts to empower women in mining communities.

Reseau d’Innovation Organisationelle

The Reseau d’Innovation Organisationelle (RIO) is a network in Democratic Republic of Congo’s South Kivu province promoting peace and social development in communities throughout the Great Lakes region. IMPACT is partnered with RIO to carry out research examining the role of women and women’s livelihoods in the artisanal mining sector in central and east Africa. RIO provides research support in the Democratic Republic of Congo on the role of women in artisanal mining. RIO has been an implementing partner in the Digging for Equality project.

Solidarity for Integrated Peace and Development (SOFEPADI)

SOFEPADI is a non-profit organization in Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) promoting women’s rights and empowerment. IMPACT has partnered with SOFEPADI to carry out sensitization, capacity building, and provide leadership opportunities for women in artisanal mining communities in DRC’s Ituri Province.

Zimbabwe Environmental Law Association

The Zimbabwe Environmental Law Association (ZELA) is a public environmental law group promoting environmental justice, sustainable and equitable use of natural resources, democracy and god governance in the natural resource and environment sector. ZELA has been an implementing partner for IMPACT’s Digging for Equality project in Zimbabwe.

Academic Institutions

Carleton University

IMPACT collaborates with Ottawa-based Carleton University on research, including to examine the role of women and women’s livelihoods in the artisanal mining sector in central and east Africa as part of the Growth and Economic Opportunities for Women (GrOW) program. Carleton University’s History Department has also provided archival research to support the documentation of IMPACT’s history.

Queens University

IMPACT collaborates with the Smith School of Business at Queen’s University in Kingston on research into global supply chain assessments.

Colorado School of Mines

IMPACT is working together with the Colorado School of Mines and I.R. Consilium on a multidisciplinary, collaborative research project entitled Understanding and Disrupting Key Convergence Nodes of the Illicit Gold and Mercury Supply Chains in Latin America and Africa. This project will contribute to a better understanding of illicit supply chains and the ability to detect, disrupt, and disable them through an examination and comparison of key convergence nodes in the global supply chains for illicit gold and mercury in Latin America and Africa, with a focus on Peru and Kenya. The five-year project is funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF).

Governments and Regional Institutions

Government of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)

IMPACT has provided technical support to the Democratic Republic of Congo’s Ministry of Mines since 2011, supporting the implementation of the ICGLR’s six tools to end the illicit trade of conflict-prone minerals. We signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Minister of Mines in September 2016 that expresses support for our activities in strengthening natural resource management, including women’s empowerment in the sector. We also have agreements with and provide technical support to Service d’Assistance et d’Encadrement du Small-Scale Mining (SAESSCAM) at the national, provincial, and local levels. Additionally, we collaborate with other policymakers in the mining sector including Centre d’évaluation, d’expertise et de certification (CEEC), and the Division of Mines. We also collaborate with the Ministry of Gender, Family, and Children.

Governments of Uganda

IMPACT has provided technical support and capacity building to Uganda’s Ministries of Mines and the Directorate of Geological Survey and Mines (DGSM) since 2011, supporting the implementation of the ICGLR’s six tools to end the illicit trade of conflict-prone minerals, as well as promoting gender equality and environmental stewardship in artisanal mining across the country.

International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR)

The International Conference on the Great Lakes Region is an inter-governmental organization of 12 countries in Africa’s Great Lakes region who are working together to promote sustainable peace and development. IMPACT has been working closely with the ICGLR since 2005 to end the illicit trade of conflict-prone minerals, specifically 3Ts and gold. We helped develop and are now supporting the implementation of six tools created as part of the ICGLR’s Regional Initiative against the Illegal Exploitation of Natural Resources. We signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the ICGLR Secretariat and provide technical guidance and capacity building to both the ICGLR Secretariat and the 12 Member States.

Private Sector

Fair Trade Jewellery Company

Toronto-based Fair Trade Jewellery Company (FTJCo), is a world leader and innovator in traceable metals, diamonds and gems. Since 2006, the company has set the standard for traceable jewellery, achieving many firsts including being the first jeweller to offer Fairtrade and later Fairmined gold to North America. In 2017, Fair Trade Jewellery Co. began purchasing gold from IMPACT’s Just Gold project and is the first manufacturer and retailer in the world, to offer conflict-free and traceable artisanal gold from Democratic Republic of Congo to consumers.

Natalie Marie Jewellery

Based in Sydney, Australia, Natalie Marie Jewellery has hand-crafted pieces using traditional techniques since the studio’s debut in 2012. Natalie has created a label which has at its heart an ethos based on connection, sentiment and originality. The studio works with their suppliers to understand their supply chain and use responsible gems and metals in their pieces. As a business, they do their utmost to leave a lighter, more responsible footprint on the environment, while also believing they can do more. As part of this commitment, Natalie Marie Jewellery donates 1% of their online sales to IMPACT.

Memberships and Affiliations

Africa-Canada Forum

The Africa-Canada Forum is a working group of the Canadian Council for International Cooperation (CCIC) and brings together Canadian organizations working on development and social justice in Africa. IMPACT is a member of the Forum.

Alliance 8.7

Alliance 8.7 is a global partnership to eliminate forced labour, modern slavery, human trafficking, and child labour around the world. IMPACT is a member of the alliance.

Environmental Peacebuilding Association

Launched in 2018, the Environmental Peacebuilding Association provides a multidisciplinary forum to address issues related to environment, conflict, and peace. IMPACT is a founding member of the association.

European Partnership for Responsible Minerals

The European Partnership for Responsible Minerals (EPRM) is a multi-stakeholder partnership that aims to create better conditions for mining communities by increasing the number of mines that adopt responsible mining practices in conflict and high-risk areas. IMPACT is a member of the initiative.

Forum des ONGI-RDC

IMPACT is a member of the independent forum of international organizations working in Democratic Republic of Congo. The forum aims to help members address key issues for an efficient and effective use of aid resources in the country.

OECD

The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) developed the OECD Due Diligence Guidance for Responsible Supply Chains of Minerals Conflict-Affected and High-Risk Areas, a voluntary set of guidelines for the private sector to responsibly source minerals. IMPACT advised on and contributed to the development of the OECD Due Diligence Guidance, including its annexes on 3Ts and artisanal gold. We are also currently serving as civil society co-chair of the Multi-Stakeholder Steering Group, which supports its implementation. We provide capacity building to stakeholders around the world—including West Africa and the Great Lakes region—on implementing the Guidance. We also strongly advocate for legal adoption of the Guidance as part of our technical support to governments.

Public-Private Alliance for Responsible Minerals Trade

The Public-Private Alliance for Responsible Minerals Trade is a US-led, joint initiative between governments, the private sector, and civil society to support the establishment of conflict-free mineral supply chains in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. IMPACT participates in the initiative by serving on the Governance Committee as well as a number of working groups.

Publish What You Pay Canada

Publish What You Pay-Canada (PWYP-Canada) is a coalition of 15 Canadian civil society groups with the shared objective of increasing transparency in the extractive sector, both at home and abroad. The coalition believes that a more accountable system of natural resource management is necessary to enhance development and improve the lives of citizens in resource-rich countries. IMPACT helped found PWYP-Canada in 2008 and has hosted it since while also serving on the Steering Committee.

Responsible Minerals Initiative

The Responsible Minerals Initiative (RMI) is an umbrella organization for the voice of progressive industry to support responsible mineral sourcing. IMPACT is a Steering Committee member.

United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Global Mercury Partnership

The Global Mercury Partnership is an alliance of governments, industry, and organizations from around the world committed to reducing mercury’s impacts on human health and the environment. IMPACT is a member of the Partnership and shares information and strategies to reduce mercury use in artisanal and small-scale mining.

Voluntary Principles on Security and Human Rights

The Voluntary Principles on Security and Human Rights is a multi-stakeholder initiative that promotes practical guidelines to advance security and human rights in the extractive sector. IMPACT is a member of the civil society pillar.

Women’s Rights in Mining

Women’s Rights and Mining is a collaborative effort of NGOs, researchers and government organisations to secure commitments from key stakeholders in the mining sector to address key gender concerns. IMPACT is a member of the working group.