Blogs
Introducing Cobalt Credits: Responsible sourcing starts with taking responsibility
This is a guest blog authored by Angela Jorns, the Fair Materials & Mining Lead at Fairphone, and David Sturmes, Fundraising & Business Development Director at The Impact Facility. Fairphone is a Dutch social enterprise that, by making a smartphone and other electronics, is building a movement for fairer electronics, seeking to open up the […]
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Empowering Women in Cobalt Mining: A Path to Eliminating Child labour in Lualaba, DR Congo
Gloria’s story, as recounted by IMPACT, sheds light on the daunting challenges faced by women in the cobalt-rich region of Lualaba, DR Congo. These women are confronted with an agonizing choice – to confront hunger or turn to cobalt mining – what the downstream refers to as artisanal mining. This dilemma uncovers deep-rooted gender inequalities […]
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FCA Quarterly – Q3 2023
In the third quarter of 2023, the FCA continued to make progress in its efforts to support the transformation of the artisanal cobalt sector in the DR Congo. The FCA is proud to inform you that our team in the DR Congo has grown. We have now been joined by Maso-Esther Kitwa Mutombo and Anthony […]
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FCA Quarterly – Q2 2023
In the second quarter of 2023, the FCA continued to make progress in its efforts to support the transformation of the artisanal cobalt sector in the DR Congo. Achieving tangible impact in artisanal cobalt mining communities The Fair Cobalt Alliance’s strategic approach to achieving its objectives and tangible impact in artisanal cobalt mining communities comprises […]
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FCA Quarterly – Q1 2023
In the first quarter of 2023, the FCA continued to make progress in its efforts to support the transformation of the artisanal cobalt sector in the DR Congo. A few changes were made in our Kolwezi office. The FCA has welcomed a new country director after the departure of Steve Brewster. Antoine Kasongo (pictured below) […]
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How to provide access to healthcare to artisanal cobalt miners in the DR Congo
In this guest blog post, Dr. Julius Emmrich, co-founder of Elucid Social, shares Elucid’s work on reducing financial barriers to healthcare in agri supply chains and the replication of this approach to the artisanal mining sector in the DR Congo. Access to healthcare is a human right. In sub-Saharan Africa, where less than 10% […]
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Establishing fair trading practices at artisanal cobalt mine sites
One of the Fair Cobalt Alliance’s three strategic objectives is increasing the incomes of artisanal miners and their wider community. Key to that strategy is ensuring fair value retention at the point of mineral sales.
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VSLAs – building peer-to-peer networks to strengthen financial resilience
VSLAs: What are they? Voluntary Savings and Loans Associations Reason for creation? Despite the increased income of artisanal miners compared to their peers in sectors such as agriculture, they are still poverty-stricken due to the mismanagement of their resources and the lack of financial education. Voluntary Savings and Loan Associations (VSLAs) are designed to support […]
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