Diamonds in the DRC: A sector struggling to shine again
April 23, 2025The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is an important player in the global diamond industry, with considerable untapped potential. This report discusses the current state of play in the DRC’s diamond mining sector, including production trends, key challenges, as well as efforts and opportunities to revive the sector and to increase its impact on local development and socio-economic well-being
Chinese investment in Tanzania’s small-scale mining: The challenge of technical support and regulatory oversight
April 7, 2025DARUBINI – TANZANIA BRIEFING – MARCH 2025 Chinese investments in Africa’s mineral sector have expanded rapidly in recent years, driven by China’s increased resource demand, the continent’s abundant mineral reserves and the risk-taking entrepreneurial culture among Chinese investors. To address concerns about ethical practices, the China Chamber of Commerce of Metals, Minerals, and Chemicals Import
The (new) M23 offensive on Goma: Why this long-lasting conflict is not only about minerals and what are its implications? – Q&A
February 6, 2025By the morning of January 29th, the rebels largely controlled the strategic city of Goma. To provide a quick and understandable explanation of the causes of this humanitarian crisis, the role of natural resources, and in particular minerals, is often overemphasized. While mining and mineral trade inevitably play an important role — being a vital part of the local economy — it is important to asses
Balancing prosperity and rights: Advancing Tanzania’s Business and Human Rights agenda in extractives
January 30, 2025DARUBINI – TANZANIA BRIEFING – JANUARY 2025 In today’s global business environment, corporate responsibility towards host community welfare, particularly safeguarding and respecting human rights, has become a pivotal concern. The issue reached a watershed moment in 2011 with the development of the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGPs). These principles rest on a th
Tanzania’s path to ethical sourcing: Enhancing participation in global forums
October 31, 2024DARUBINI – TANZANIA BRIEFING – OCTOBER 2024 The global focus on responsible business conduct, particularly in extractive industries, has intensified discussions around human rights and ethical practices in mineral supply chains. The Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) has taken a leading role in shaping the discourse, developing due diligence guidelines for responsible bu
Unconditional Cash Transfers (UCT) in the DRC: A pilot study assessing the socio-economic effects in an artisanal mining zone of Maniema Province
October 16, 2024Building on previous experience in Uganda, the Belgian organisation Eight World vzw started in October 2021, an Unconditional Cash Transfer (UCT) pilot project in a village in an artisanal mining zone in the territory of Pangi, in Maniema province, in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). IPIS has undertaken a comprehensive study to evaluate key indicators related to the socio-economic,
Advancing responsible oil and gas management: The Tanzania Liquified Natural Gas Project
August 12, 2024DARUBINI – TANZANIA BRIEFING – AUGUST 2024 The global energy landscape is undergoing a profound transformation. Today, Tanzania is on the brink of finalizing a Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) export deal. The Likong’o Liquefied Natural Gas Project aims to exploit the reserves discovered in an offshore basin in the Indian Ocean, with an estimated 57 trillion cubic feet of gas intended for export. The T
Unearthing equality: Women’s empowerment in Tanzania’s extractive sector
April 18, 2024DARUBINI – TANZANIA BRIEFING – APRIL 2024 While driving economic growth and contributing to welfare, the benefits of Tanzania’s extractive sector have not been equitably distributed among all segments of society, with women being notably disadvantaged. In this briefing, IPIS and its partners look at the realities of women’s participation in both small and large-scale mining. The briefing iden
The M23 “version 2” – Local stakes, motivations, perceptions, and impacts
April 4, 2024Since 2021, the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has once again fallen victim to the “March 23 Movement” (M23). Supposedly defeated in 2013, the M23 took up arms again in 2021, and by 2022 had rapidly seized vast territories in the south-east of North Kivu province.
Access to remedy and extractive industries: The challenges of legal aid providers in Tanzania
December 20, 2023DARUBINI – Tanzania Briefing – December 2023 Tanzania’s rich mineral reserves and thriving extractive industries provide a promise of economic prosperity and development. However, when these industries cause harm to both surrounding communities and environments, access to remedy often remains difficult. In this briefing, IPIS and its partners address challenges facing Legal Aid Providers (LA
Mapping the political economy of checkpoints in Somalia
December 20, 2023The maps inform users on the locations of roadblocks across Somalia, the distribution of violence at checkpoints as well as the density of checkpoints per administrative region. Different maps also identify varying characteristics of the roadblocks, including their operator, location on a primary/secondary road and the amount paid at the checkpoint as toll.
Petra Diamonds’ attempts to come clean with its tarnished past in Tanzania
November 9, 2023Challenges in securing access to remedy and restoring community relations after serious human rights abuse at the Williamson diamond mine This report assesses the efforts by Petra Diamonds to restore community relations and remediate the legacy of serious human rights abuse at its Williamson diamond mine in Tanzania. Download the report The Williamson Diamonds mine, adjacent villages a
The EU Conflict Minerals Regulation: High stakes, disappointing results
October 19, 2023The EU Regulation on the responsible supply of tin, tungsten, tantalum and gold (3TG) originating from conflict-affected and high-risk areas (CAHRAs) came into full force on 1 January 2021. Also known as the “Conflict Minerals” or “Responsible Minerals” Regulation, it aims to break the link between the exploitation and trade in 3TG on the one hand, and conflict financing on the othe
Tanzania’s mining policy on local content: Progress and associated challenges
September 13, 2023DARUBINI – Tanzania Briefing – September 2023 Tanzania has experienced a boom in its mining sector in the past few years. Yet there are concerns about the limited benefit this has provided to Tanzanian communities , due to a lack of local participation in the sector’s value chain. This briefing evaluates the implementation of legislation regulating local participation thus far and identifies
Annual Report 2022
June 26, 2023In 2022 IPIS continued its work throughout the gradual wind-down of the COVID pandemic and the outbreak of war in Ukraine. Throughout a turbulent year for civil society actors committed to peace, disarmament, and international dialogue, IPIS remained steadfast. Continuing to develop strong relations with key donors and maintaining its commitment to delivering excellent work in investigating a
Tanzania and the energy transition: Potential, progress and challenges
June 6, 2023DARUBINI – Tanzania briefing – May 2023 The global debate on the energy transition is also heating up in African countries. It relates to the urgent need for climate change adaptation, resilience, and mitigation. This briefing focuses on the ongoing energy transition debate in Tanzania by examining the progress, potential and challenges it poses for the country to transition from fossil fuels to c
Annual Report 2021
July 13, 20222021 has proven to be a fundamental year for IPIS. In the background of the global health crisis and its various impacts on partner organisations and multilateral frameworks, IPIS continued to fulfill its role in investigating armed conflict and human rights violations, addressing business practices, and being present in networks and platforms with information and advice. This annual report gives
Maps of checkpoints in South Sudan
December 14, 2021A selection of key maps that accompany the 2021 publication “Checkpoint economy: the political economy of checkpoints in South Sudan, ten years after independence”. Interactive webmap of road-and river checkpoints in South Sudan: A static overview map of all road- and river checkpoints in South Sudan (2020 – 2021 data): A static map with details of all checkpoints, per route (2020 – 2021 data): A
Annual Report 2020
August 31, 2021This annual report provides an overview of all of IPIS’ activities in 2020. The report details the work on the different research programmes, and lists all the publications and briefings of 2020. It also outlines the various events and workshops that IPIS has participated in. Finally, the report gives an overview of the 2020 finances and the networks IPIS is a part of. Download the annual report
Review paper – The EU Conflict Minerals Regulation: Implementation at the EU Member State level
June 9, 2021A coalition of European NGOs working on responsible mineral sourcing, including IPIS, published a review paper discussing the state of implementation of the European Conflict Minerals Regulation across European Union Member States. The report highlights the shortcomings of the Regulation and the general lack of transparency that hinders effective and efficient monitoring of companies. The NGO co
