We are delighted to announce the completion of a second independent Alignment Assessment (AA) that concludes ITSCI is Fully Aligned with the OECD Due Diligence Guidance for Responsible Supply Chains of Minerals from Conflict-Affected and High-Risk Areas (CAHRAs).
Building on the positive results from its first OECD AA in 2018, ITSCI worked on and achieved important enhancements in the programme’s activities and implementation. These are reflected in the strong results of this second assessment as shown below:
- 100% alignment of ITSCI standards with overarching due diligence principles.
- 100% alignment of ITSCI standards with the five-step framework.
- 100% alignment of ITSCI implementation with overarching due diligence principles.
- 88% alignment of ITSCI implementation with the five-step framework.
- 100% alignment of the specific responsibilities of the ITSCI programme.
- 81% rating on overall governance of the ITSCI programme.
ITSCI has made the AA publicly available to share all scores in detail and show further information on the evaluation. The report identifies the key strengths of the ITSCI programme and recommendations for further improvements. We welcome the suggestions on enhancing our operations and will evaluate the opportunities for improvement and prioritise them based on local context, practicality, and cost/benefit. Our annual reports and other communications will continue to provide updates.
Reflecting on the AA report and process, ITSCI Programme Manager, Mickaël Daudin stated “I am very proud of the results of this assessment. ITSCI operates in the face of multiple challenges related to security, infrastructure, and complex local environments in CAHRAs, as well as limited funding. Yet these results demonstrate that we continue to make significant progress and that facilitating effective due diligence on minerals from CAHRAs promotes responsible sourcing practices and leads to long-term and lasting change at scale.”
The AA report helps to clarify aspects of the ITSCI programme, which from ITSCI’s perspective, underpins its work and revolves around three key themes:
- As a facilitation initiative, ITSCI provides valuable information to relevant stakeholders including companies, to assist them with their due diligence responsibilities.
- ITSCI delivers training and tools to companies, governments, state services, and other stakeholders to build and enhance their capacity while enhancing good governance.
- ITSCI acts as a convening and as an instrument of mediation with multiple stakeholders from the industry, government and civil society to address and resolve risks, incidents and conflict.
ITSCI is the first joint industry initiative to announce a successful second AA and the first to publish the full report with the completed tool. This demonstrates our sustained commitment to transparency in our work.
Using the methodology developed by the OECD, the second AA was initiated by ITSCI in mid-2022. After a planning and preparation phase, ITSCI contracted Kumi Consulting Ltd (Kumi), an advisory firm specialised in responsible supply chains and an organisation recognised as a qualified, experienced, and independent evaluator. The next phases of the assessment took place over a period of six months. The final report provides full details of the assessment methodology, the assessor’s qualifications, a list of consulted sources, findings and conclusions. It confirms that ITSCI’s activities and operational requirements are explicitly designed to implement the recommendations of the OECD Guidance.
To further strengthen the credibility of the programme and promote best practices, ITSCI remains committed to independent Alignment Assessments at least every five years conducted by a credible, qualified, and independent third-party assessor.
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About ITSCI
ITSCI’s vision is that effective due diligence of minerals from CAHRA lessens the risk of unfounded disengagement by businesses. Through supporting companies and promoting due diligence best practices and improved governance through an industry scheme, the ITSCI programme not only reduces risks of serious abuses but also contributes to the formalisation of the mining sector.
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For more information, please contact Mickaël Daudin, ITSCI Programme Manager, [email protected]
For further information:
OECD Due Diligence Guidance for Responsible Supply Chains of Minerals from Conflict-Affected and High-Risk Areas (CAHRAs). https://www.oecd.org/corporate/mne/mining.htm
First OECD Alignment Assessment of ITSCI in 2018: https://www.itsci.org/2018/07/31/itsci-achieves-highest-rating-in-independent-oecd-alignment-study/
