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, 2025

By 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


Tanzania’s path to ethical sourcing: Enhancing participation in global forums

October 31, 2024

DARUBINI – 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, 2024

Building 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, 2024

DARUBINI – 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, 2024

DARUBINI – 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, 2024

Since 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, 2023

DARUBINI – 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, 2023

The 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, 2023

Challenges 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, 2023

The 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, 2023

DARUBINI – 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, 2023

In 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, 2023

DARUBINI – 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, 2022

2021 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, 2021

A 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, 2021

This 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, 2021

A 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


Evaluating Due Diligence Programs for Conflict Minerals

March 29, 2021

The 2010 Dodd-Frank Act requires that US-listed companies sourcing so-called “conflict minerals” from Africa’s Great Lakes region conduct due diligence. Since January 2021, the EU imposes its 3TG importers to conduct due diligence in line with the OECD Guidelines (for a comparison between the two regulations, see IPIS Insight: Regulating Responsible Sourcing of 3TG Minerals). D


National Baseline Assessment – Business and Human Rights in Belgium

March 17, 2021

IPIS contributed to the Belgian National Baseline Assessment (NBA). The report covers the findings and recommendations of the NBA. The NBA charts the progress made by Belgian authorities and companies since the launch of Belgium’s first National Action Plan on Business and Human Rights, in June 2017. The research was commissioned by the Belgian Federal Institute for Sustainable Developme


Annual Report 2019

August 26, 2020

This 2019 annual report provides an overview of IPIS’ research projects, capacity enhancement and outreach activities throughout last year. Read the full activity report to see what IPIS has been up to in 2019.