After nearly two years of successful testing, the DRC is implementing the region’s first system to trace legal and conflict-free artisanal gold.
The Just Gold project – carried out by Partnership Africa Canada – aims to create incentives for artisanal gold miners to channel their product to legal exporters (and eventually responsible consumers) by offering fair and transparent pricing as well as capacity-building such as technical assistance to miners in return for legal sales.
Joanne Lebert, Partnership Africa Canada’s executive director, says: ‘The government of the Democratic Republic of Congo is taking major strides in complying with regional standards and demonstrating how the implementation of the OECD [Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development] Due Diligence Guidance for Responsible Supply Chains can contribute to progressive improvements in the sector, supporting artisanal gold men and women miners to enter international markets.’
According to an Africa Business Communities report, the project also aims to improve awareness of women’s rights and their access, control and benefit of resources.
