{"id":41976,"date":"2026-05-26T10:01:24","date_gmt":"2026-05-26T08:01:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ipisresearch.be\/?post_type=publication&p=41976"},"modified":"2026-06-02T12:14:29","modified_gmt":"2026-06-02T10:14:29","slug":"assessing-digital-traceability-systems-for-critical-mineral-value-chains-aligning-upstream-and-downstream-agendas","status":"publish","type":"publication","link":"https:\/\/ipisresearch.be\/fr\/publication\/assessing-digital-traceability-systems-for-critical-mineral-value-chains-aligning-upstream-and-downstream-agendas\/","title":{"rendered":"Assessing digital traceability systems for critical mineral value chains: Aligning upstream and downstream agendas"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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As demand for critical raw materials accelerates, digital traceability has become central to efforts aimed at strengthening responsible sourcing, environmental, social and governance (ESG) oversight, and supply chain resilience. Yet while traceability is increasingly promoted as a key governance tool, important questions remain about its feasibility, scalability and implications for producer countries and artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Commissioned by GIZ<\/a> and conducted by Levin Sources<\/a> and IPIS<\/a>, this report analyses the rapidly evolving landscape of digital traceability systems for critical mineral value chains. The study combines desk research, a comparative mapping of 27 internationally relevant traceability systems (see annexed assessment matrix<\/a>), more than 20 interviews with solution providers, companies, governments, civil society and standard-setting organisations and selected country examples from the Democratic Republic of Congo, Guinea, Zambia, Indonesia and Chile. Key findings were validated during a panel and multi-stakeholder roundtable held in February 2026 at the Investing in African Mining Indaba<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Key findings and recommendations<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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The study highlights that traceability should not be treated as a substitute for due diligence, but as a tool to support it. While digital systems can generate and transmit large volumes of supply chain and ESG data, responsible sourcing ultimately depends on governance, verification and how information is used to guide risk mitigation and decision-making.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The report identifies four key challenges and priorities for the future of digital traceability in critical mineral supply chains:<\/p>\n\n\n\n