The Context
Artisanal and small-scale mining is an important livelihood for millions around the world. Approximately 20 percent of the world’s gold is mined by artisanal miners.
Yet, artisanal gold mining remains largely informal and is prone to widespread corruption and violence. As an alternative to paper currency, gold is often favoured for money laundering and illicit trade. It is a high-value, easy-to-transport mineral, making it vulnerable to smuggling and an ideal target for armed groups. As a result, artisanal gold mining communities are often exploited by armed groups and other illicit actors.
Governments lose significant revenues from gold that is smuggled out of the country. According to the United Nations Security Council’s Group of Experts, 98 percent of artisanal gold production in Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is undeclared.
Internationally, private sector disclosure laws are drawing attention to supply chain transparency. Many companies are required to report on their 3T and gold supply chain, collecting data on the minerals, the people, and steps involved. Companies must also publicly report on weaknesses in their supply chain and actions they’ve taken to address identified risks. They must demonstrate that they are not inadvertently funding conflict and human rights violations, and proactively contribute in developing solutions where risks can be mitigated.
Project Learnings
Press Releases & News
No Viable Future for Conflict-Free, Traceable, Responsible Gold from Democratic Republic of Congo Without Major Shifts in Market Expectations: New Report
Ottawa, Canada—March 31, 2021 Until the gold industry, donors, and consumers prioritize and support a development and rights-based approach that leverages the market, the future is unpromising for conflict-free, traceable, […]
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What We Are Doing
Through the Just Gold project, consumers are for the first-time ever able to buy traceable, legal, and conflict-free gold from artisanal mine sites in Democratic Republic of Congo. The Just Gold project was piloted in northeastern Democratic Republic of Congo’s Ituri Province, in Mambasa Territory, with the project proving a successful chain of custody from mine site to exporter in May 2017.
Over 1,000 miners across six mine sites have sold almost 17 kg of fully traceable gold to a verified exporter as part of the Just Gold project. In June 2017, Canadian-based jewellery company, Fair Trade Jewellery Co., made history by purchasing the first export of fully traceable, conflict-free artisanal gold from Democratic Republic of Congo and making it available to consumers in Canada.
IMPACT is supporting the traceability and due diligence implementation for the Just Gold project from mine site to export on the ground in Ituri Province. We are providing the local mining cooperative in Mambasa with capacity building and technical guidance to implement the traceability and due diligence system as part of the project.
IMPACT also supports the integration of women’s economic empowerment , improving understanding of women’s rights in the communities involved in the project and fostering women’s leadership through skill-building and training.
Project Results
2,171
artisanal gold miners participated
24kg
of gold from DRC legally exported to international market
2017
first traceable, legal, conflict-free artisanal gold from DRC to international market
2018
first traceable, legal, conflict-free artisanal gold from DRC to USA refiner
Project Stories
Press Releases & News
Jeweller Completes First Export of Responsible & Conflict-Free Artisanal Gold from Eastern Congo to Canada
First time any consumer good will be made out of conflict-free artisanal gold from Congo that is fully traced from mine to consumer June 26, 2017—Ottawa/Toronto, Canada Partnership Africa Canada […]
Read More for Jeweller Completes First Export of Responsible & Conflict-Free Artisanal Gold from Eastern Congo to Canada
Press Releases & News
First Congolese Gold Exporter Takes Decisive Action to Carry out Due Diligence: Opens its Doors to International Markets
February 15, 2016 – Bunia, Democratic Republic of Congo / Ottawa, Canada A gold exporter in the Democratic Republic of Congo’s Ituri province is the first in the country to […]
Read More for First Congolese Gold Exporter Takes Decisive Action to Carry out Due Diligence: Opens its Doors to International Markets
Publication
Supporting Artisanal Gold Miners to Become Environmentally Responsible
Is it possible to advance gender equality, development, and peace while supporting communities to protect the environment? We don’t just think so—it’s the unique strategic value of our mission. Our […]
Read More for Supporting Artisanal Gold Miners to Become Environmentally Responsible
Press Releases & News
First Responsible and Conflict-Free Artisanal Gold Supply Chain Operational in Eastern Congo
The Just Gold project is the first to successfully trace conflict-free and legal artisanal gold from mine site to export applying regional and international standards May 17, 2017—Kinshasa, Democratic Republic […]
Read More for First Responsible and Conflict-Free Artisanal Gold Supply Chain Operational in Eastern Congo
IMPACT first began developing a traceability and due diligence system for artisanal gold in Democratic Republic of Congo in 2012. The project picked up the name Just Gold in 2017. The first successful chain of custody from mine site to export was announced in June 2017. A month later, the first conflict-free, traceable, and legal artisanal gold from Democratic Republic of Congo hit the market in Canada.
The Just Gold project was funded by Global Affairs Canada as part of IMPACT’s Building Responsible Supply Chains for Development in Africa’s Great Lakes Region program. A previous pilot was launched in 2014 with the support of the Public Private Alliance to test an incentive-based model for artisanal gold traceability in eastern DRC. The one-year pilot and its lessons developed into the Just Gold project. The Just Gold project launched in 2015 and is funded by Global Affairs Canada, with additional funding previously provided by USAID, through their Capacity Building for Responsible Minerals Trade (CBRMT) project, and the International Organization for Migration. Funding for the project has also come from Apple and Humanity United.
