New IPIS project on mining, human rights and digitalization in Tanzania

March 13, 2017

From late February to early March, two IPIS researchers were in Tanzania to lay the foundations for a new project funded by the Belgian development cooperation. It concerns a mapping of the socio-economic and human rights situation of artisanal and industrial mining in Northwest Tanzania. The project will run for 30 months (until June 2019), and has two main phases. In a first phase, IPIS will und


Launch of SAESSCAM database on artisanal and small-scale mining

March 3, 2017

On February 23rd, IPIS presented in Kinshasa the results of a two years project done in partnership with Pact and Estelle Levin Ltd to support the activities of SAESSCAM (“Service d’accompagnement et d’encadrement du Small-scale mining”), a service of Congolese Ministry of mines. During this project IPIS developed and launched SAESSCAM ASM database, a database to register production and socio-econ


Training on cartography and artisanal mine site inspections in Mambasa

December 23, 2016

French version below – version française ci-dessous Training on cartography and artisanal mine site inspections – Mambasa, Ituri, DRCongo From 10 to 14 December 2016, IPIS organised a training on cartography and artisanal mine site inspections in Mambasa, Ituri. The aim of this training was to launch and prepare the ground for IPIS’ artisanal gold monitoring pilot, financed by the Public-Private A


SAESSCAM database on artisanal and small-scale mining

November 15, 2016

As part of a project to support good governance in the artisanal and small-scale mining sector in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), IPIS has delivered a functional web application and database for SAESSCAM agents to record production data from artisanal mining sites as well as a publicly accessible interactive webmap. IPIS is engaged in a PROMINES project, in partnership with Pact and Estell


Annual Report 2015

August 31, 2016

Download pdf or open with issuu reader http://issuu.com/ipisresearch/docs/2016_10_10_ipis_jaarverslag_2015_20


Third Party Review of the Bisie Security Report

July 19, 2016

The so-called ‘Bisie Mineral Stock’ encompasses about 1,000 tons of cassiterite, extracted by artisanal miners at Bisie mines between November 2010 and June 2015. A number of bans on mining and mineral trade in this region, as well as some hesitance further down the supply chain to buy untagged minerals, meant that mineral production was not marketed, but stored in warehouses. From 2014 onwards, n


Bonne gouvernance des ressources naturelles: IPIS / DPDDA Atelier pour la société civile, Bangui

July 18, 2016

Du 29 juin au 1er juillet 2016 IPIS a animé un atelier pour 25 organisations locales de la société civile à Bangui (République centrafricaine). (English below) La formation a été co-organisée avec le projet de l’USAID, Droit de propriété et Développement du diamant artisanal (DPDDA II). Les objectifs de cet atelier étaient de sensibiliser et d’améliorer la connaissance de la bonne gouvernance dans


Workshop on Corporate Accountability in Tanzania

May 27, 2016

From 23 to 27 May 2016, two IPIS researchers were in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania to organise and facilitate a workshop on engaging corporate accountability for human right impacts of extractive companies. Participants consisted of very engaged civil society representatives from all over the country that work specifically on these issues, namely HakiMadini, CESOPE, FAWOPA, Tanzanian Human Right Defende


Coloured gemstones in eastern DRC: Tourmaline exploitation and trade in the Kivus

May 11, 2016

Responsible sourcing efforts in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to date have focused predominantly on the so-called 3TG (tin, tungsten, tantalum and gold) sector. Nevertheless, the artisanal exploitation of other minerals including semi-precious gemstones, such as tourmaline, can also make notable contributions to local livelihoods […]


Business, Human Rights and Uganda’s oil. Part III: Respect and Remedy: Implementing corporate responsibility under the UN Framework on Business and Human Rights

December 31, 2015

The following is the third in a series of four reports exploring business and human rights issues in Uganda’s oil sector. This series is a collaboration between IPIS vzw and ActionAid Uganda. The 2011 UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights operationalise the 2008 Protect, Respect and Remedy Framework. In accordance herewith, this third report assesses the duty of businesses to respect


Thorns amongst the roses. A Cross-country analysis of human rights issues in flower farms in East Africa

December 31, 2015

Floriculture is one of Africa’s most lucrative export sectors and can bring significant benefits to producer communities, but only where operations are conducted in a manner that is sustainable and respectful of the rights of workers and communities. Thorns Amongst the Roses summarises the human rights impacts that the International Peace Information Service (IPIS), the Global Horticultural Worker


SAESSCAM Database

Presentation of SAESSCAM database on Artisanal and Small-scale Mining

November 26, 2015

From November 17 to 19, IPIS presented its work during a multi stakeholder meeting in Kinshasa as part of a project to support artisanal and small scale mining in DRC. In partnership with Pact and Estelle Levin LTD, IPIS has provided capacity reinforcement for the Service d’Assistance et d’Encadrement du Small Scale Mining (SAESSCAM), a governmental agency. IPIS focused on reviewing existing data


Renforcement des capacités en gestion de données

July 24, 2015

English version below.          Du 19 au 23 juillet 2015, l’Equipe d’IPIS a organisé une formation à Kinshasa destinée aux agents de la Division des Mines, du Cadastre Minier et du Service d’accompagnement et d’encadrement du Small-scale mining (SAESSCAM). Cette formation de quatre jours a permis de renforcer les capacités des membres de ces organisations gouvernementales notamment dans les d


The Right to Water and Sanitation: A Practical Guide

June 1, 2015

This guide is designed to raise awareness on the importance of the right to water and sanitation. It is addressed to those who work at the grassroots, and aims at helping them with practical ways to address the challenges of poverty and water issues. The guide adopts a bottom-up approach to highlight the steps that citizens and communities can take together with governments to address water and sa


IPIS Tanzania

Business & Human Rights in Tanzania: what’s on the agenda?

March 26, 2015

On 18 and 19 August 2014, IPIS organised a workshop on Business and Human Rights in close cooperation with the Tanzanian national human rights institution, the Commission for Human Rights and Good Governance. The workshop, which took place in Dar es Salaam, was designed and facilitated by IPIS researchers, Anna Bulzomi and Gabriella Wass, together with Business & Human Rights Resource Centre r


IPIS Launches our Business and Human Rights Learning Programme in Tanzania

October 29, 2014

  IPIS always endeavours to conduct research in collaboration with local partners. For example, our four paper series on the role of the United Nation’s Guiding Principles on Business and Human Right (UNGPs) in Uganda’s oil sector has been a collaborative effort between IPIS and ActionAid Uganda. Recently, IPIS’ funders – the Belgian Development Cooperation – decided to fund a pilot learning


De Belgische ontwikkelingssamenwerking en fragiele staten: een kloof tussen beleid en praktijk?

May 8, 2014

Zo goed als de helft van de Belgische middelen voor ontwikkelingshulp gaat naar partnerlanden waar de overheid niet de capaciteit, wil en/of legitimiteit heeft om de publieke zaken efficiënt te beheren, voor veiligheid te zorgen en om de bevolking uit de armoede te halen. Omdat traditionele hulprecepten in deze ‘fragiele staten’ op hun limieten stuiten, is er de laatste decennia een internationaal


Business & Human Rights in Uganda: What’s on the Agenda?

March 5, 2014

A few days after attending the annual UN Forum on Business and Human Rights in Geneva, IPIS Business & Human Rights Analysts Anna Bulzomi and Gabriella Wass boarded a plane to Kampala, Uganda, to run a two-day training with ActionAid Uganda for businesses and NGOs on “What does business & human rights mean, and how can we bring about a healthy relationship between the two?” This document s


Oil Uganda

Business, Human Rights, and Uganda’s Oil – Part II: Protect and Remedy: Implementing State duties under the UN Framework on Business and Human Rights

December 18, 2013

The following is the second in a series of four reports exploring business and human rights issues in Uganda’s oil sector. This series is a collaboration between IPIS vsw and ActionAid Uganda. In accordance with the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, this second report assesses the duty of the Ugandan, British, French and Chinese States to prevent, investigate, punish and redress


Online public databases for Arms Trade Research

August 29, 2013

In recent years IPIS has published several publications in collaboration with local African organisations. Such cooperation has allowed us to share know-how from over 30 years of research experience while benefitting from our partners’ networks and understanding of local issues. Although IPIS’ research assignments are often limited to a few months, we are increasingly trying to improve our working