Cobalt Hub · Initiatives

What’s being done.

A registry of the initiatives, programmes and pilots working to improve ASM cobalt, with their lead organisations, location and status. Filter by focus or status, search by name.

Showing 24 of 24 initiatives
Active

Fair Cobalt Alliance

Supply-chain-wide alliance mobilising investment to professionalise ASM cobalt, remove child labour and diversify community incomes.

Lead: The Impact Facility + membersWhere: Kolwezi, LualabaFounded: 2020
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Active

Cobalt for Development (C4D)

Pilot demonstrating ASM cobalt can meet health, safety and environmental standards; trains cooperatives and runs community programmes.

Lead: GIZ + IMPACT; BMW, BASF, EU, StihlWhere: Kisote, KolweziFounded: 2019
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Active

Holistic Due Diligence (HDD)

EPRM-funded framework digitising local information so ASM operators can manage risk, prove responsible sourcing and reach banking and global markets; runs on the Nashiriki, Hatua and KOTA apps.

Lead: Hive + La Sentinelle; EPRM, TMBWhere: DRC copper-cobalt beltFounded: 2024
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Active

GBA Cobalt Action Partnership

Public-private platform to formalise DRC ASM cobalt and eradicate child labour; co-developed the ASM Cobalt Framework.

Lead: Global Battery Alliance / RMIWhere: DRC + globalFounded: 2020
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Active

Responsible Cobalt Initiative (RCI)

Aligns downstream and upstream company policies with OECD guidance; co-published the Cobalt Refiner standard.

Lead: CCCMCWhere: China + DRCFounded: 2016
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Stalled / paused

Mutoshi formalisation pilot

World-first LSM-ASM formalisation pilot (~2,000+ accredited miners); suspended in 2020 and not relaunched as the site went industrial.

Lead: Chemaf, Trafigura, PactWhere: Mutoshi, KolweziFounded: 2018
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Active

FCA mine-site professionalisation

On-site safety rules, protective equipment and child-labour removal at a partner cooperative mine.

Lead: Fair Cobalt AllianceWhere: Kamilombe, Kolwezi
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Stalled / paused

EGC formalisation model

State monopoly mandated to buy and market all artisanal cobalt; first traceable output in Nov 2025, but volumes remain very low.

Lead: EGC / GécaminesWhere: Kolwezi (ZEAs)Founded: 2019
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Active

ERG Africa × EGC MoU

Public-private MoU to formalise responsible artisanal mining on an ERG exploitation area.

Lead: ERG Africa & EGCWhere: LualabaFounded: 2026
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Active

Mercuria × EGC “Gold Standard” MoU

Aims to make the Kasulo ASM site a benchmark for responsible cobalt: safety, human rights, environment and full traceability.

Lead: Mercuria & EGCWhere: Kasulo, KolweziFounded: 2026
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Active

Better Mining

Technology-enabled continuous monitoring of human rights and health & safety on individual ASM cobalt sites.

Lead: RCS Global / SLRWhere: Lualaba sitesFounded: 2018
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Active

IPIS mine-site mapping

Open mine-site mapping and the Kufatilia incident-monitoring system, extended into the cobalt province of Lualaba in 2023, plus cobalt due-diligence and EU-regulation analysis.

Lead: IPIS (International Peace Information Service)Where: DRC (east + Lualaba)
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Stalled / paused

Re|Source blockchain traceability

Industry consortium piloting end-to-end blockchain cobalt traceability; primarily industrial, with uncertain post-pilot status.

Lead: Glencore, CMOC, ERGWhere: DRC → downstreamFounded: 2019
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Active

The Hub — Child Labour Remediation Network

Networked remediation hub providing education, stipends and psychosocial support, delivered through seven local CSOs.

Lead: Centre for Child Rights & Business, FCA, Save the ChildrenWhere: KolweziFounded: 2022
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Completed

COTECCO

Built the capacity of 44 cobalt cooperatives and companies to prevent and remediate child labour; foundation for the CLMRS.

Lead: US DoL & ILO / PactWhere: Haut-Katanga, LualabaFounded: 2018
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Active

GALAB

Successor to COTECCO; strengthens remediation services for children identified through the CLMRS.

Lead: US DoL & ILOWhere: Haut-Katanga, LualabaFounded: 2024
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Active

Catch-Up Clubs

Education and vocational clubs plus family financial support to keep children out of mines.

Lead: Save the Children with FCAWhere: KolweziFounded: 2024
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Active

Signify school electrification

Solar panels and solar libraries in ten schools, reaching around 6,000 pupils, to extend safe study time.

Lead: Signify Foundation with FCAWhere: Kasulu & Kapata, KolweziFounded: 2020
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