Roadblocks and artisanal mining sites – North and South Kivu Provinces (2018)

March 20, 2018

This map show the location of roadblocks and artisanal mining sites in the Kivu provinces. It was made by combining data from our recent report on roadblocks in the area, and data from our recent update of our database and webmap on artisanal mining sites in eastern DRC.   Download the full image


New data on mining sites and roadblocks on IPIS’ upgraded DRC interactive web map

March 19, 2018

IPIS launches a major update of it’s DRC webmap displaying data on more than 2400 artisanal mining sites in eastern DRC and more than 800 roadblocks. Since December 2016, IPIS teams have visited more than 500 artisanal mines in eastern DRC, gathering data that has been added to IPIS’ interactive webmap. IPIS also integrated other datasets gathered during its projects in the region, including the d


Interactive map of artisanal mining exploitation in eastern DR Congo – 2018 update

March 19, 2018

Résumé français ci-dessous – French summary below IPIS launched a major update of it’s DRC webmap displaying data on more than 2400 artisanal mining sites in eastern DRC and more than 800 roadblocks. Since December 2016, IPIS teams have visited more than 500 artisanal mines in eastern DRC, gathering data that has been added to IPIS’ interactive webmap. IPIS also integrated other datasets gathered


Mobile data collection on mining sites in Kigoma, Tanzania

February 26, 2018

IPIS is undertaking a large-scale mobile data collection exercise on operational, socio-economic and human rights aspects of artisanal and industrial mining in northwest Tanzania. Building on this baseline data, IPIS will develop and implement a phone-based incidents reporting mechanism for local and mining communities. With better and more accessible data, IPIS aims to contribute to improving the


Training and workshop on mapping artisanal mining in Eastern DRC

February 9, 2018

(French version below) 2373 Mining sites visited, including 470 visits in the last thirteen months. 300 Roadblocks visited on a total of 798 mapped roadblocks. More than 18 000 km travelled by plane, bus, motorbikes and by foot… These are a few of the impressive results achieved by the twelve IPIS researchers in Eastern DRC.   Late January, a workshop held in Goma gave IPIS researchers an opportun


Improving monitoring, research and dialogue on Business and Human Rights in Tanzania

February 2, 2018

IPIS was in Dar es Salaam to launch its new project on Business & Human Rights with the Tanzanian Commission for Human Rights and Good Governance (CHRAGG) and Business and Human Rights Tanzania (BHRT). Tanzania is  bearing the fruits of the accelerating economic growth and rising influx of foreign direct investment (FDI), but is  also struggling with the enormous challenges in the ar


Okapi Wildlife Reserve: Illegal Sourcing of Gold and Timber (2018)

February 1, 2018

A map of the Okapi Wildlife Reserve in DRC, created as a result of two mapathons focussing on illegal activities in the park.


Voix du Congo: “The place of women in artisanal mining in the Masisi territory: Legislation and field practice”

December 21, 2017

See our series : VOIX DU CONGO This publication, by the non-profit organisation “Action pour la Liberté et le Développement des Communautés Locales” ALDECO, presents a research on 3T artisanal mining in the Masisi territory and the Rubaya mining site in North Kivu (DRC). The goal is to understand what place is reserved for women in this field. This article helps understanding whether international


Roadblocks CAR

The Politics of Pillage: the political economy of roadblocks in the Central African Republic (2017)

December 7, 2017

IPIS puts roadblocks on the map as key mechanism of conflict funding besides natural resources, revealing its devastating scope in funding armed actors in Democratic Republic of Congo and Central African Republic Mapping over a thousand roadblocks, IPIS uncovers the shocking extent of armed predation on trade routes in conflict-ridden Central Africa. Roadblocks, IPIS claims, have netted armed grou


Roadblocks CAR

Roadblock rebels: IPIS maps important mechanism of conflict funding in Central Africa

December 6, 2017

 IPIS puts roadblocks on the map as key mechanism of conflict funding besides natural resources, revealing its devastating scope in funding armed actors in Democratic Republic of Congo and Central African Republic Mapping over a thousand roadblocks, two IPIS reports released today have uncovered the shocking extent of armed predation on trade routes in conflict-ridden Central Africa. Roadbloc


IPIS Briefing March 2020

“Everything that moves will be taxed”: the political economy of roadblocks in North and South Kivu (2017)

December 6, 2017

IPIS puts roadblocks on the map as key mechanism of conflict funding besides natural resources, revealing its devastating scope in funding armed actors in Democratic Republic of Congo and Central African Republic Mapping over a thousand roadblocks,  IPIS shows the shocking extent of armed predation on trade routes in conflict-ridden Central Africa. Roadblocks, IPIS claims, have netted armed groups


Pastoralism corridors in Central African Republic (2017)

December 1, 2017

While pastoralism can generates wealth and economic interdependence between farmers and cattle herders, it can also causes tension and conflicts. In the current Central African Republic crisis context, transnational livestock migrations, particularly by Chadian and Sudanese herdsmen to CAR, have led to clashes between pastoralists and the local population. IPIS has developed a map showing the main


New Mapathon with special focus on DRC National Parks at IPIS

November 23, 2017

IPIS, Missing Maps and OpenStreetMap Belgium organise another Missing Maps Mapathon on Wednesday December 6, in the IPIS library. Why do we organise this? NGOs working in the South need decent maps in order to reach people who need help. However, in many places the map is not yet complete. That’s why we need your help! How do we help? We teach volunteers how to trace satellite imagery in


Training and workshop on mapping the socio-economic and human rights impact of mining in northwest Tanzania

November 14, 2017

On Monday 23 October, IPIS organised a workshop in Mwanza to launch the data collection phase of its mapping project on the socio-economic and human rights impact of mining in northwest Tanzania. This served to introduce the project and obtain additional input and feedback on the most pressing information gaps in the sector. The workshop was organised for a broad audience of Tanzanian mining and h


Towards a multi-scale approach for an Earth observation based assessment of natural resource exploitation in conflict regions

November 6, 2017

Environment and natural resources can be key elements in starting and fueling conflicts. IPIS researcher Filip Hilgert contributed to an article in Geocarto International (2017, vol. 32, n° 10) on a multi-scale approach for an Earth observation based assessment of natural resource exploitation in conflict regions. Download the full article Elisabeth Schoepfer, Kristin Spröhnle, Olaf Kranz, Xavier


Artisanal Gold Monitoring Pilot (2017)

October 17, 2017

With the support of the Public Private Alliance for Responsible Minerals Trade (PPA), IPIS set up its Artisanal Gold Monitoring Pilot in Mambasa (Ituri Province, DRC) between April 2016 and July 2017. This involved developing a low-cost methodology to produce a continuous data flow on a wide range of indicators related to the operational, security and human rights context of artisanal gold mining.


Gold monitoring

Artisanal gold monitoring pilot in Mambasa

October 3, 2017

With funding from the Public Private Alliance for Responsible Minerals Trade (PPA), IPIS set up a pilot monitoring system for gold production and trade in Mambasa, Ituri Province, DRC. The first overall objective of this pilot was to enhance local capacities to monitor gold supply chains and due diligence according to a system that balances data accuracy with safety and security, and cost. The Mam


IPIS committed to help end mercury poisoning from artisanal gold mining

September 25, 2017

From 24 to 29 September 2017 the first meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Minamata Convention on Mercury will take place in Geneva, Switzerland. The Convention was approved by delegates from over 140 countries in 2013, and entered into force in August 2017. It is a multilateral environmental agreement addressing specific human activities which are contributing to widespread mercury po


North Kivu 2017

Maps of Mining Sites in North Kivu (2017)

September 21, 2017

North Kivu Province – AO Map Lubero, Oicha, Butembo and Beni Territories – A0 Map     Masisi Territory – A0 Map Masisi Territory, North Kivu Province, DRC Masisi Territory, North Kivu Province, DRC (Detail) Rutshuru Territory – A0 Map   Rutshuru Territory, North Kivu Province, DRC Rutshuru Territory, North Kivu Province, DRC (Detail)   Walikale Territory – A0 Map   Walikal


République Centrafricaine: Portait d’un territoire riche en crises (2012 – 2017)

September 19, 2017

This poster is a compilation of maps and graphics related to the situation in the Central African Republic. A map of natural resources and poaching corridors presents the known wealth of this country, often considered as conflict drivers in the absence of well functioning state authorities. A small map presents the current armed groups area of influence as well as the number of reported violent in