### The Democratic Republic of Congo: a call for expertise for childhood and cobalt
In the current context of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), where cobalt extraction is often associated with complex socio-economic realities including the exploitation of children and young people, a new significant project has just been launched: the support project for the alternative well-being of children and young people involved in the cobalt supply chain (Pabea-Cobalt). This project, supported by the African Development Bank Group (BAD), considered crucial, opens the way to a deeper reflection on the challenges of monitoring-evaluation in similar initiatives.
#### Context and justification of a strategic project
The DRC is full of immense mineral riches, and Cobalt has become a central element in the development of modern technologies, from smartphones batteries. However, this wealth is often marred by human rights violations, including child labor in mining extraction. In response to this problem, the Pabea-Cobalt aims to transform this tragedy into an opportunity by offering alternative support to young people and children engaged in these supply chains.
#### An urgent need to strengthen follow-up-evaluation
At the heart of this initiative is a crucial recruitment: that of a national consultant, expert in monitoring-evaluation. This role is not limited to simple data collection. It is fundamental to ensuring that the project objectives are achieved and that learned lessons can be integrated into future actions. The monitoring and evaluation methodology must be agile, adapted to local realities while guaranteeing transparency and responsibility.
The challenges encountered by the projects of this scale are multiple: several stakeholders, often to divergent interests, an environment constantly evolving and a need for interaction with often suspicious local communities. The consultant will not only have to master modern monitoring tools, but also develop a humanist approach, taking into account the voice of the main concerned: children and young people.
#### A holistic approach for a systematic assessment
The tasks assigned to the future consultant go beyond the simple quantitative indicators. The evaluation work must also include a qualitative dimension, by being interested in the perception of gender and the dynamics of poverty within communities. This focus is of capital importance in a country where inequalities exacerbate vulnerabilities.
The implementation of a computerized activity monitoring system will have to integrate into a model that guarantees the sustainability of the achievements. The capitalization of experiences and results must be done via a continuous learning loop, promoting a constant dialogue between UCP/Pabea-Cobalt and project beneficiaries.
#### International statistics and comparisons
To illustrate the importance of this project, it is relevant to recall some striking figures concerning the exploitation of children in the craft sector of Cobalt. According to a study by UNICEF, around 40,000 children work in the artisanal mines of the DRC, a situation that cannot last if you want to hope for sustainable development.
Compared, other countries like Chile, which is the largest copper producer, have implemented similar reintegration programs for children engaging in the mining sector. In 2018, a report by the Chilean government has shown that such a mechanism has reduced children’s work by 30 % in just three years, a model to consider for the DRC.
#### an Imperatif Moral and Ethics
Accepting this responsibility for monitoring and evaluation and technical assistance to the Pabea-Cobalt is not only a question of performance. It is, above all, an ethical obligation towards children whose fundamental rights have been flouted for too long. By funding projects that combine sustainable development and protection of the rights of the child, the international community plays a decisive role in the rewriting of the cobalt story in the DRC.
### Conclusion
The Pabea-Cobalt project represents a unique opportunity not only for children and young people in vulnerability, but also for the DRC to reaffirm its commitment to human rights. By integrating quality experts and implementing a robust monitoring-evaluation framework, this project could become a model to follow on a regional and global scale. It is imperative that this change is guided by values of respect, integrity and solidarity, because in the end, it is at the dignity and the future of an entire generation.