Research shows that children’s income goes to support basic family needs like food

June 11, 2025 — Lubumbashi, Democratic Republic of Congo

IMPACT is launching a new project today to tackle child labour in Democratic Republic of Congo’s (DRC) artisanal cobalt mine sites by increasing the livelihoods of women in the sector. The Her Security project aims to address the root causes of child labour in DRC’s artisanal cobalt and copper mining sector by improving the well-being of women and youth in local communities.

The project launch coincides with the International Day Against Child Labour on June 12, contributing to global efforts to address root causes that pressure families to resort to child labour.

In addition to improving livelihoods, the project will also strengthen the capacity of the actors in the supply chain to implement due diligence, while supporting local authorities to monitor and mitigate the presence of child labour at mine sites. IMPACT is implementing the project in partnership with Bon Pasteur Kolwezi and Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative in DRC (EITI-DRC), with funding from the European Union.

The project’s launch today in Lubumbashi, Haut Katanga Province, brought together officials from key ministries for the project, including the Ministry of Mines, Ministry of Gender, Children and Family, the mining administration, supply chain actors, civil society, and private sector representatives. Stakeholders discussed ongoing efforts to address child labour in mine sites and their links to women’s economic and physical security.

“We’ve heard from many women how they wished for a different life for their children. We want to support mothers to have enough income to pay for their family’s needs at the end of the day so their children can focus on going to school and their future dreams. Investing in women is the first step in taking children out of mines and will lead to healthier, happier communities—and ultimately responsible supply chains of artisanal cobalt from DRC,” said Yann Lebrat, IMPACT’s Deputy Executive Director.

The Her Security project builds on the first phase in 2022-2023, which sought to understand the link between women’s security and child labour. IMPACT’s report found that women are main contributors to household incomes in artisanal cobalt mining communities but the income they earn is not enough to cover basic needs. As a result, children work in artisanal cobalt mining to boost their family’s income and help pay for food, clothing, and school fees.

Women can earn between $2.15-8.60 USD per day from artisanal cobalt mining—which is the highest earning job in the region. However, many are struggling to cover all basic needs, with the estimated living wage at $15.78 USD per day in Kolwezi. Children can earn up to $2.50 USD each per day. IMPACT found that children usually give their earnings to their mothers who use it for basic household necessities.

The project will implement strategies to increase and diversify women’s incomes through technical skills training, financial literacy, as well as savings and loans associations. An awareness campaign will aim to support local actors to develop more effective strategies to tackle child labour. The leadership capacity of women and youth will be strengthened allowing them to take part in decisions affecting their communities.

“Women are at the heart of our communities—and when we empower them economically and socially, we transform entire families. At Bon Pasteur Kolwezi, we see every day how a mother’s ability to earn a decent living directly impacts whether a child goes to school or ends up in the mines. Through the Her Security project, we are investing in women not just as caregivers, but as agents of change who can break the cycle of poverty and child labour in cobalt mining areas,” said Sister Bernadette Muindi, Director of Bon Pasteur Kolwezi.

“Thanks to the 2023 EITI Standard, natural resource governance now incorporates a stronger gender perspective. It recognizes that the impacts of extractive industries differ by gender, with women often being disadvantaged in terms of access to information and decision-making. The EITI requires the equitable participation of women, including in the artisanal mining sector, and encourages the disclosure of gender-disaggregated data. By promoting the inclusion of women at all levels—from government to communities—the EITI works towards fairer, more sustainable management that represents the interests of all citizens,” said Jean-Jacques Kayembe, National Coordinator of EITI-DRC.

Her Security is a four-year project (2024-2028) whose final beneficiaries will be mothers, adolescent girls and boys, children and local women’s groups from artisanal mining communities working in the artisanal cobalt and copper sector in Haut-Katanga and Lualaba. Read more about the Her Security project here.

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IMPACT transforms how natural resources are managed in areas where security and human rights are at risk. We investigate and develop approaches for natural resources to improve security, development, and equality. We are an independent non-profit, collaborating with local partners for lasting change. IMPACT has worked in DRC and neighbouring countries for more than a decade with multiple projects supporting responsible supply chains and transparency in the artisanal gold and cobalt sectors.

Bon Pasteur Kolwezi is a Congolese nonprofit established in 2012 by the Good Shepherd sisters to improve the situation of artisanal miners by promoting community development, women’s empowerment, and child protection. It is currently consolidating its activities in Kolwezi, Lualaba Province, and gradually expanding to seven new artisanal mining communities nearby.

EITI-DRC aims to strengthen transparency and good governance in the management of DRC’s extractive sector through the application of its international standard since 2005. This process is supported by a National Committee composed of an Executive Committee, represented by the Government, the private sector, and civil society, as well as a Technical Secretariat, led by a National Coordinator.