Capacity Building for Responsible Minerals Trade (CBRMT) Quarterly Progress Report, January–March 2015

The program aimed to strengthen the capacity of key actors in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to implement responsible minerals trade practices. In January-March 2015, CBRMT implemented several key activities to achieve its objectives. The initiative conducted a desktop study to review the DRC mining code, which identified areas for improvement in the legal and policy framework. Field scoping exercises and roundtable meetings were also conducted to gather feedback from stakeholders and identify key challenges. The CBRMT program strengthened the capacity of key actors through functional organizational planning, technical assistance to policymakers, and training for supply chain actors. The initiative provided technical assistance to policymakers, including leveraging and educating policy "champions" and providing technical assistance in alternative certification and traceability. CBRMT also assessed and scaled up traceability schemes for tin, tungsten, and tantalum, as well as gold. Assessments of traceability efficacy and costs were conducted, and a cost-effective scaling-up plan was developed. The initiative also strengthened the capacity of the International Conference for the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR) through an assessment of the Independent Mineral Chain Auditor (IMCA) and regional certification mechanism. In terms of management and operations, CBRMT established an office in the DRC and recruited staff, including a Chief of Party and a Deputy Chief of Party. The initiative also established partnerships with various organizations, including the German Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources (BGR) and the German Society for International Cooperation (GIZ). CBRMT implemented cross-cutting activities, including communications and outreach, gender, monitoring and evaluation, environmental impact and mitigation, and collaboration and coordination with various stakeholders. The initiative worked closely with the ICGLR, the DRC government, and other organizations to promote responsible minerals trade practices. The CBRMT program achieved several key outcomes in January-March 2015, including the development of a functional organizational plan, the provision of technical assistance to policymakers, and the assessment and scaling up of traceability schemes. The initiative also strengthened the capacity of the ICGLR and promoted collaboration and coordination among stakeholders. CBRMT's quarterly progress report highlights the initiative's efforts to strengthen the capacity of key actors in the DRC to implement responsible minerals trade practices. The report provides an overview of the initiative's activities, outcomes, and achievements in January-March 2015. The CBRMT program has made significant progress in strengthening the capacity of key actors in the DRC to implement responsible minerals trade practices. The initiative's efforts to develop a functional organizational plan, provide technical assistance to policymakers, and assess and scale up traceability schemes have contributed to the promotion of responsible minerals trade practices in the DRC. CBRMT's quarterly progress report provides a comprehensive overview of the initiative's activities, outcomes, and achievements in January-March 2015. The report highlights the initiative's efforts to strengthen the capacity of key actors in the DRC to implement responsible minerals trade practices and promote collaboration and coordination among stakeholders. The CBRMT program has achieved several key outcomes in January-March 2015, including the development of a functional organizational plan, the provision of technical assistance to policymakers, and the assessment and scaling up of traceability schemes. The initiative's efforts to strengthen the capacity of the ICGLR and promote collaboration and coordination among stakeholders have contributed to the promotion of responsible minerals trade practices in the DRC.