the ITSCI Programme for Responsible Mineral Supply Chains
an award-winning multi-stakeholder programme contributing to better governance, human rights & stability

ABOUT ITSCI

ITSCI supports member companies to implement due diligence by working with governments and civil society and providing expert field, data, risk management and auditing teams
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HOW TO JOIN

Responsible upstream operators, including mining cooperatives, companies, exporters, traders and smelters join as Full members, while downstream companies are welcome as Associates to access information

PURPOSE

ITSCI’s purpose is to create responsible mineral supply chains that avoid contributing to conflict, human rights abuses, or other risks such as bribery, currently in central Africa
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INFORMATION

ITSCI generates and transparently publishes unique, extensive and credible information on progressive improvement in due diligence and risk mitigation in high risk areas

RESULTS

Since piloting in 2010, ITSCI rapidly scaled up and adapted to small and larger scale mining areas in four countries, now monitoring over 1,800 sites and recording hundreds of supply chain risks each year
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BEYOND CONFLICT

ITSCI’s human resource and logistical network in remote mining areas provides a unique opportunity for more contributors to make positive differences to safety, gender equality and economies
“ITSCI has made remarkable progress and is the only on-the-ground traceability and due diligence programme that has to date been able to demonstrate a clear impact on mineral production and exports” OECD Due Diligence Implementation Report, April 2016

Stakeholder Benefits

Benefiting Business

Local miners, traders and exporters 

  • Improved security and reduced corruption
  • Economic and social development
  • Reduced risk and potential investment

Traders and smelters 

  • Reliable information from the field
  • Increased access to consistent supplies
  • Reduced reputational and financial risk

Downstream traders and manufacturers

  • Information for Dodd Frank & other compliance
  • Reduced reputational risk
  • Opportunity to make a difference ‘beyond conflict’

 

Benefiting Communities

National and local government 

  • Increased formalisation of artisanal and small mining
  • Improved authority and control of mining sector
  • Training and advice for due diligence monitoring
  • Improved data and potential tax collection

Local and mining communities 

  • Opportunity to report and resolve risks
  • Increased security, support and income
  • Share of taxes for infrastructure and projects

Intergovernmental and donor organisations 

  • Successful support for formalisation and trade
  • Meeting policy objectives for stabilisation and development
  • Opportunities to create results ‘beyond conflict’

 

News

News

2024 Annual Report

2024 Annual Report

Jun 2, 2025

The ITSCI Programme has released its 2024 annual review, highlighting key achievements, challenges, and improvements working within the artisanal and small scale mining sector in the African Great Lakes Region.

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ITSCI comments on recent Global Witness investigation

ITSCI comments on recent Global Witness investigation

May 2, 2025

A publication by Global Witness from 16th April titled “New investigations suggests EU trader Traxys buys conflict minerals from DRC” suggests that large volumes of coltan connected to the conflict in Eastern DRC have entered mineral supply chains via local exporters...

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Recent Developments in North and South Kivu, DRC

Recent Developments in North and South Kivu, DRC

Apr 24, 2025

The situation in North and South Kivu, DRC remains very concerning due to the ongoing presence of non-state armed group M23 and their affiliated groups on the one side, and a large number of ‘Wazalendo’ non-state armed groups fighting along with FARDC on the other. ITSCI continues to deeply regret the escalation of violence in those areas and strongly condemns all illegal actions by the M23 and human rights abuses by conflicting parties. We continue to closely monitor the rapidly evolving situation in those areas.

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