Improving monitoring, research and dialogue on Business and Human Rights in Tanzania
February 2, 2018IPIS 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, 2018A 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, 2017See 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
The Politics of Pillage: the political economy of roadblocks in the Central African Republic (2017)
December 7, 2017IPIS 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
Roadblock rebels: IPIS maps important mechanism of conflict funding in Central Africa
December 6, 2017IPIS 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
“Everything that moves will be taxed”: the political economy of roadblocks in North and South Kivu (2017)
December 6, 2017IPIS 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, 2017While 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, 2017IPIS, 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, 2017On 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, 2017Environment 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, 2017With 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.
Artisanal gold monitoring pilot in Mambasa
October 3, 2017With 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, 2017From 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
Maps of Mining Sites in North Kivu (2017)
September 21, 2017North 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, 2017This 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
Maps of Mining Sites in Ituri (2017)
September 19, 2017Map of Ituri Province of Ituri, DRC (Detail) Map of Mambasa Territory Territory of Mambasa, Province of Ituri, DRC (Detail)
Natural Resources in Central African Republic (2017)
September 12, 2017With an area of 622 984km2, the Central African Republic is the 20th largest country in Africa and one of the poorest in the world. Its economy is highly dependent of the primary sector. Whereas distribution of income is deeply unequal, the unstable political situation and the violent confrontations between different armed groups all around the country weaken the economic growth, especially from
Voix du Congo: Study on the use of mercury and cyanide in artisanal gold mining in North and South Kivu
July 7, 2017See our series: VOIX DU CONGO This publication, by “Save Act Mine” SAM, presents a study on gold mining techniques in Eastern DRC. In these regions, the subsoil is very rich in minerals. Although this represents enormous potential for the economy, it also leads to particularly dangerous challenges such as environmental pollution and the degradation of the health status of local populations
Voix du Congo: Artisanal miners and surrounding communities, victims of the security and justice services in South Kivu, eastern DRC
July 7, 2017See our series: VOIX DU CONGO This publication, by the non-profit organisation “Association Africaine de Défense des Droits de l’Homme” ASADHO, focuses on human rights violations carried out by members of the DRC’s armed forces in the mining sector in the South Kivu Province. Several violations are regularly committed by the Congolese armed forces, either in operation or when deploye
Voix du Congo: Sexual exploitation of underage girls in the mining areas of South Kivu province in the Democratic Republic of Congo
July 7, 2017See our series VOIX DU CONGO This publication, by the non-profit association “Centre pour l’Education, Animation et Défense des Droits de l’Homme” CEADHO, presents a research on the sexual exploitation of underage girls in mining areas in South Kivu. The sexual exploitation of underage girls in mining areas is an increasingly recurrent phenomenon in South Kivu and is taking on a more w
