EGC establishes "Local Monitoring Committee" for Kasulo

Aligned with the law of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), DRC mining regulations and OECD Due Diligence Guidance, the ‘EGC Responsible Sourcing Standard’ includes specific commitments related stakeholder engagement and relationship management programmes with communities impacted by EGC’s operations.

The implementation and continuous development of the EGC Standard requires close collaboration and open dialogue with a wide range of stakeholders.  With this goal in mind, a Local Monitoring Committee (“LMC”) or “Comité Local de Suivi” (“CLS”) for the Kasulo community was established by EGC and its partners, such as Trafigura and Pact, in June 2021.

Kasulo’s CLS comprises multiple stakeholder groups all with a stake in safe and responsible operations inside and outside of the Kasulo mine site.  Members of the CLS include representatives of the local Chiefdom, Provincial authorities, Provincial mining authorities, health and security agencies of the State, mining cooperatives, civil society organisations, Pact and representatives of EGC.

The role of the CLS

The first CLS to be established by EGC and its partners focused on the 786/Kasulo artisanal mining zone (“ZEA”). Depending on future site locations, each new ZEA concession that undergoes transformation to alignment with the EGC Responsible Sourcing Standard will either join an existing CLS or have its own dedicated CLS established. 

The key role of the CLS is to identify, analyse, manage and mitigate risks affecting the value chain for responsibly sourced artisanal cobalt, and its impact on the surrounding community. The responsibilities of the CLS can be summarised as follows:

• Promoting strict adherence to the artisanal miners’ code of conduct, national law, and the EGC Standard;
• Monitoring and reporting on situations when the EGC Standard is not being met, including human rights abuses, corruption, tax non-compliance, occupational health and safety;
• Facilitating the implementation of risk management plans and monitoring their impact;
• Participating and collaborating with EGC and its partners to identify risks and share recommendations for corresponding mitigation;
• Acting as a framework for open dialogue, consultation and conflict resolution; and
• Structuring a safe and secure communication platform for local communities regarding artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) and its impact on the surrounding communities.

Training

Pact and its local representatives have a wealth of experience in establishing and training Local Monitoring Committees in ASM communities throughout the DRC.  The success of such committees relies on the extensive training modules and framework designed by EGC and Pact to equip committee members with the knowledge and tools needed to identify and mitigate risks associated with ASM formalisation and its impact on surrounding communities. The training consists of presentations, workshops and case studies with a curriculum focused on the following areas:

• EGC Responsible Sourcing Standard;
• Voluntary Principles on Security and Human Rights;
• Occupational Health and Safety;
• Sensitisation on child labour and gender-based violence;
• Risk identification methods and management planning;
• Managing plan monitoring and communication; and
• Conflict resolution.

An evolving process

The CLS meets at least monthly, with extended training sessions and more urgent gatherings as required. The risks and challenges associated with ASM site development and transition vary per community, but the establishment, or growth, of a CLS per site, allows for EGC and its stakeholders to continuously build on shared experiences. Ultimately, this will improve the efficacy of the CLS and maximise the positive socio-economic impact that ASM formalisation can offer these communities.