Stories from the Field
Empowering women in the Rwandan mining industry
Many women are involved in the mining sector in Rwanda, and active in a historically male-dominated industry. The Rwandan government actively encourages women to study science and engineering and established regulatory and policy instruments to promote gender...
ITSCI launches electronic data collection in Burundi
In late 2021, ITSCI rolled out electronic data collection as a new tool to further develop the Burundian government’s capacity in the 3T mining sector and greatly improve data accuracy, transmissivity speeds and reliability as well as work efficiency. After seven...
Traceability helps to promote community well-being
In June 2021, ITSCI field staff visited Kisende primary school in Kizigaziga village, in Maniema’s Pangi territory. The school has recently been renovated by Ngozi artisanal mining cooperative (COMINGOZI). The rehabilitation reinforces the cooperative’s pledge for...
Training local stakeholders in Maniema
In July 2021, ITSCI DRC Programme Manager (PM) Vincent Gbolo Songe travelled throughout Maniema Province to conduct special training sessions with CPP and CLS members, accompanied by the provincial PM Alpy Songoli. The CPP and CLS are provincial and local...
Changing practices on the ground: the joint tag management system in Malemba-Nkulu, Haut Lomami
In April 2021, ITSCI organised a technical session with local stakeholders in Malemba-Nkulu territory, Haut-Lomami province to evaluate the lockbox system for joint tag management. The system builds local stakeholder engagement and state services accountability by...
ITSCI partners with civil society to strengthen capacity of District Mining Task Force committees
From 10 to 21 May 2021, ITSCI collaborated with Action for Education and the Defense of Human Rights (APEDDH) and the Rwanda Mines Board (RMB) on a new initiative to build capacity among members of District Mining Task Forces committees in 9 Rwandan districts. The aim...
Joint workshop for due diligence and traceability staff by ITSCI-RMB
On 27th August, ITSCI organised a workshop in partnership with the Rwanda Mines, Petroleum and Gas Board (RMB) to support exporters in their due diligence practice and strengthen their knowledge of ITSCI procedures, including traceability and risk management. Among...
Language Adaption Brings Local Partners Together in Luena
Engaging stakeholders at the local level can be a delicate balancing act, as the ITSCI programme seeks to build inclusive partnerships to improve traceability and due diligence on the ground in tangible ways. Trust is a crucial element that contributes to successful...
SAEMAPE provides new scales to reduce traceability incidents
SAEMAPE (Service d’assistance et d’encadrement des mines artisanales et de petit echelle) is the DRC government service devoted to supporting artisanal and small-scale miners, and a key ITSCI partner on the ground. SAEMAPE agents are tagging minerals with ITSCI at the...
Rwanda Extractive Workers’ Union (REWU) invites ITSCI at BTN TV
The Rwanda Extractive Workers' Union (REWU) hosts regular TV shows to discuss mining issues, miners' rights, and ways to professionalise the sector. On February On February 29th Ildephonse Niyonsaba, ITSCI Programme manager was invited by REWU (Rwanda Extractive...
From informal trader to owner and manager of a mine
Mr Kwizera Bosco, 35 years old, started trading small manufactured products in Kunganzo centre, in Ngororero district (located within Gatumba historic concession) at the age of 16. In 2007, he started buying minerals illegally from the concession and other sites in...
ITSCI participates in the fight against COVID in the DRC
Already under threat from the economic shocks of the global crisis, protecting the health of ASM mining communities and stopping further disruption to their livelihoods is essential. Since the beginning of the pandemic, ITSCI has leveraged its extensive field network...