October 11, 2016 – Ottawa, Canada / Kinshasa, Democratic Repubic of Congo

Partnership Africa Canada has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Democratic Republic of Congo’s Ministry of Mines defining its areas of cooperation to strengthen natural resource governance.

The MoU, signed by the DRC’s Minister of Mines Martin Kabwelulu on September 12, 2016, outlines the government’s support for Partnership Africa Canada’s activities in the country including the Just Gold pilot project that aims to bring legal, conflict-free, and traceable artisanal gold from DRC to international markets.

In an important step, the Ministry of Mines recognizes the Just Gold pilot project as a system of traceability—the first of its kind in DRC—and encourages its implementation.

“The green light from the Minister provides the needed approval and acknowledgment for the Just Gold pilot project to be recognized as a working chain of custody system for artisanal gold in Democratic Republic of Congo,” said Joanne Lebert, Executive Director of Partnership Africa Canada.

Partnership Africa Canada has provided technical support to the Ministry since 2011.

Current activities in DRC include the Just Gold pilot project, capacity building to implement both the International Conference on the Great Lakes’ (ICGLR) Regional Certification Mechanism (RCM) and the OECD Due Diligence Guidance applicable to high-value minerals, as well as research on gender in the artisanal mining sector.  PAC also provides support to civil society for monitoring and reporting on supply chain integrity.

Partnership Africa Canada’s work in DRC developed from its engagement as a technical partner to the ICGLR, providing capacity-building to implement the six tools developed by the ICGLR’s Regional Initiative against the Illegal Exploitation of Natural Resources.

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Media Contacts:

Zuzia Danielski, Communications Director

zdanielski@pacweb.org

Partnership Africa Canada (PAC) is a global leader in developing innovative approaches to strengthen natural resource governance in conflict and high-risk areas. For 30 years, PAC has collaborated with partners to promote policy dialogue and capacity-building—including through the establishment of the Kimberley Process, which earned PAC a Nobel Peace Prize nomination in 2003.