Current events in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) are marked by the organization of an exchange and awareness workshop on the application of the provisions of the Mining Code and the decrees relating to the allocation of a minimum of 0.3% of the turnover of mining companies. This workshop, organized by the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative in the DRC (ITIE-DRC), was held in several cities across the country and brought together experts from the ST ITIE, the Ministry of Mines, Local Administrations and other organizations concerned.
The aim of this workshop was to remove gray areas and promote a common understanding of the regulations surrounding the 0.3% allocation. Indeed, in application of the Mining Code, mining companies are required to devote at least 0.3% of their turnover to community development projects in the mining sector.
However, several challenges are encountered in the implementation of this regulation. Specialized agencies responsible for overseeing projects face communication difficulties with communities and civil society organizations, as well as with mining companies. In addition, a limited understanding of the 0.3% allocation management procedures manual and political blockages also hinder the proper functioning of these organizations.
Workshop participants therefore worked together to overcome these obstacles. The objectives were to harmonize the understanding of the regulations, to consistently disseminate information on the 0.3% allocation and to establish a mechanism for sharing information between companies, administrative services and impacted communities. .
Delegates from impacted communities, local administrations, representatives of mining companies and EITI-DRC experts all took part in these discussions. The objective was to promote better appropriation of the legal and regulatory provisions on the 0.3% allocation and to ensure rigorous monitoring of their execution for the benefit of development projects in impacted communities.
These workshops were therefore an opportunity to share experiences, discuss the challenges encountered and find solutions to improve the implementation of this regulation. The EITI-DRC, as organizer and coordinating body, is responsible for monitoring and executing the information sharing mechanism.
This workshop illustrates the DRC’s desire to promote transparency and sustainable development in the mining sector, while meeting the challenges linked to its implementation. It demonstrates the importance of collaboration between different stakeholders to ensure responsible and equitable mining.