Yves Bawa, CEO of Kumbuka Afrika, emphasised that questions linked to traceability are integral to due diligence processes and, together, play a vital role in advancing responsible sourcing objectives, while also strengthening transparency and governance in the mining sector.

“As the ITSCI field implementation partner, we’ve seen firsthand the importance of building institutional capacity for traceability systems to not only be compliant but also to implement sustainable interventions,” said Yves. “As ITSCI marks 15 years of impactful operations, the request by the DRC government for ITSCI to train its agents stands as a strong testament to the trust and expertise placed in the programme and reflects the government’s recognition of the importance of continuous capacity building and sustained improvements in responsible mineral sourcing.”

The sessions focused on enhancing participants’ knowledge of:

• Regulatory frameworks such as the Dodd-Frank Act, EU regulations, and the OECD Due Diligence Guidance.
• Risk identification and mitigation measures within mineral supply chains.
• The operational structure and field implementation of the ITSCI programme, including mine baseline assessment, risk monitoring, stakeholder training, and incident management mechanisms.

Participants also reviewed the OECD five-step framework, which includes establishing strong company management systems, assessing risks in supply chains, implementing response strategies, conducting independent audits, and companies reporting on due diligence efforts. At the end of the three days, participants received a certificate of participation, a recognition not only of their engagement, but also their commitment to continuous learning for improved practices on the ground.

CEEC Director General Freddy Muamba Kanyinku thanked ITSCI and its field partner Kumbuka Afrika: “We thank Kumbuka Afrika and the ITSCI program for agreeing to strengthen institutional capacity by training CEEC agents on traceability and the implementation of due diligence in our mineral supply chains. Training on due diligence equips our agents to effectively identify and reduce risks related to human rights violations, child labour, and the financing of armed groups through our mineral resources. This will contribute to peace and stability in mining areas.”