Project: Minerals for Peace and Development
Madini is the only project in the DRC that tackles the links between conflict and the exploitation of artisanal minerals. It shows that conflicts can be prevented when stakeholders are empowered to manage risks along mineral supply chains. The project creates space for responsible mineral production that benefits local communities even amid instability.
Christof Kurz, Chief of Party, Madini consortium
Artisanal mining (small-scale mining by individuals or small groups with minimal tools or machinery) sustains tens of thousands of families in the Ituri and South Kivu provinces of eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). These areas have long been affected by conflict and instability, and they are rich in gold and critical 3T minerals – tantalum, tin, and tungsten – which are essential to the electronics, aerospace, automotive, and green energy industries.
Power struggles over land, political influence and these valuable resources have contributed to violent conflict, human rights abuses, and environmental harm in eastern DRC. Undisciplined military units, a multitude of armed groups, limited government capacity, and corrupt practices threaten community safety and undermine responsible mineral supply chains and local development.
The “Madini kwa Amani na Maendeleo” project (Madini), meaning “Minerals for Peace and Development” in Swahili, works to transform artisanal mining from a source of conflict and exploitation into a foundation for local stability and growth. Since 2019, Madini has partnered with local communities, government institutions, the private sector, and civil society to improve security, reduce conflict, strengthen governance, and promote human rights in mining areas. The project fosters cooperation to ensure that international standards for responsible mineral sourcing are respected.
The context: challenges in artisanal mining
Unlike industrial mining sites in southern DRC that are often better protected and regulated, artisanal miners in eastern DRC face complex challenges:
- Hazardous work conditions, human rights abuses and a lack of social protections
- Armed groups that take over mining sites or demand various payments
- Military units that set up illegal checkpoints along transport routes
- Little market power since cooperatives are often poorly organised
- Traders and exporters control prices and reap most of the benefits
- High legal taxes and fees, and numerous illegal fees that make operating barely profitable for artisanal miners and cooperatives
- Clandestine trade through neighbouring countries and complex global supply chains that hinder traceability and responsible sourcing
- Environmental and health impacts of unregulated mining, including soil and water contamination, deforestation, and many others.
Why does the Madini project matter?
The global demand for critical minerals and gold is at an all-time high. However, diversification of global supply chains for these precious resources remains challenging. The DRC’s mineral wealth presents a crucial opportunity to meet this demand while fostering economic development in mining areas – but only if the minerals are sourced responsibly.
As the only project of its kind in eastern DRC, Madini contributes to building a mining sector that benefits local communities while helping to meet the world’s growing demand for critical minerals in a peaceful, legal and sustainable way.
Key elements of Madini’s approach
Where international due diligence standards are respected and contamination is prevented in conflict areas
And respect for legal frameworks and human rights
That are aligned with community priorities
That push for inclusive, accountable mining practices and the transparent management of public revenue from mining activities
That are supported by research-based advocacy for conflict-free artisanal mining
What makes Madini’s approach unique?
Access to reliable supplies of these minerals from responsible sources is possible, even in the challenging context of eastern DRC. This requires managing mining-related conflicts and improving governance at provincial and local levels. Together, these efforts promote responsible sourcing while fostering economic development and peace in the region.
Three main strategies Madini uses to address the links between artisanal mining and conflict:
- Community-based conflict management and peacebuilding: Madini helps local stakeholders to identify mining-related conflicts and to facilitate peaceful solutions. The project supports local oversight committees that bring together communities, private sector representatives, security forces, and government officials to address disputes before they escalate. This approach fosters social cohesion and safer mining environments.
- Governance and oversight: The project strengthens local and provincial authorities’ oversight of the mining sector. This includes research, technical advice, training, and helping enforce laws and regulations. Madini promotes transparency and accountability so that mining benefits reach communities instead of illegal actors or intermediaries.
- Supporting responsible mineral supply chains: Madini helps miners, cooperatives and local companies to meet international standards for responsible mining and access global markets. For example, the project advocates for and assists them in implementing the OECD Due Diligence Guidance and the ICGLR Regional Certification Mechanism. It promotes and supports the “Blue Mine” certification, which allows small mines to conduct their own risk assessments and operate legally and in accordance with responsible mining standards for three years while progressing toward more permanent ‘green’ certification. This helps ensure that minerals leaving the region come from conflict-free sources.
This approach helps manage upstream risks in mineral supply chains in support of the global green energy transition and high-tech industries, while contributing significantly to local stability, security, and development. It can also open pathways for environmental preservation and the rehabilitation of mining areas.
Emmanuel Kanane, Goldix Trade Company representative from the Ituri Province, on Madini’s support:
On two occasions, the perimeter of the mining company I represent was illegally exploited – first by artisanal miners, then by dredgers on the Ituri River. The Territorial Oversight Committee of mining activities (CTS) that the Madini project supports managed to intervene and resolve this conflict. Thanks to their efforts, these operators understood the illegality of their presence and no longer attempt to exploit this area.
Madini’s proven results
Between 2020 and 2024, Madini made significant progress in improving working conditions, promoting legal mining practices, and boosting the livelihoods of local miners. Some of the key successes include:
109 mining-related conflicts addressed
in Ituri and South Kivu by local mining oversight committees supported by the project. This helped to stabilise mining communities, prevent conflict escalation and created safer working conditions for artisanal miners.
in Ituri and South Kivu by local mining oversight committees supported by the project. This helped to stabilise mining communities, prevent conflict escalation and created safer working conditions for artisanal miners.
Improved security in mining communities
As a result of project’s advocacy, military units withdrew from 26 mining sites, and 18 illegal checkpoints extorting traders and miners were dismantled, allowing for safer and more transparent mineral trade.
As a result of project’s advocacy, military units withdrew from 26 mining sites, and 18 illegal checkpoints extorting traders and miners were dismantled, allowing for safer and more transparent mineral trade.
“Blue Mines” certification became official law in the DRC
21 potential blue sites were identified, and in April 2024 the first certified blue mine exported gold to a European refinery, giving small-scale miners direct access to the European market.
21 potential blue sites were identified, and in April 2024 the first certified blue mine exported gold to a European refinery, giving small-scale miners direct access to the European market.
Improved law enforcement and more transparent taxation
Based on data from two studies on taxation, the project helped reduce mining license costs, laboratory testing fees for 3T minerals and tax burden for small-scale miners in South Kivu, making it more affordable for small operators to work legally.
Based on data from two studies on taxation, the project helped reduce mining license costs, laboratory testing fees for 3T minerals and tax burden for small-scale miners in South Kivu, making it more affordable for small operators to work legally.
Better coordination between all groups involved in mining
Madini brought together government agencies, military, companies, local communities on provincial and national levels and generated over 50 recommendations for better managing small-scale mining.
Madini brought together government agencies, military, companies, local communities on provincial and national levels and generated over 50 recommendations for better managing small-scale mining.
In 2024, Madini was chosen among hundreds of initiatives for the Paris Peace Forum‘s Scale-up programme (SCUP) – a recognition of its innovative approach to transforming mining communities.
What’s next?
The Madini project entered its second phase in August 2024, which will continue until January 2027. Building on lessons learned and successes of phase I, it continues to support local conflict and risk management efforts. As part of it, the project focuses on making local multi-stakeholder oversight committees more sustainable, supports the establishment of additional responsible mine sites, and collaborates with the DRC government on strategies and tools to formalise the artisanal mining sector.
Who implements Madini?
The Madini project is delivered by a consortium of organisations:
- International Alert leads the project, providing strategic guidance and technical leadership.
- Bureau des Etudes Scientifiques et Techniques (BEST) is the implementing partner in South Kivu province.
- Justice Plus manages project activities in Ituri province.
- Observatoire Gouvernance et Paix (OGP) works with security forces.
- International Peace Information Service (IPIS), headquartered in Belgium, conducts research, mapping, and monitoring of mining sites to support evidence-based decision-making.
The project is funded by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
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