Pact proposes madini safi (?pure minerals?): securing fair and reliable critical mineral supply chains in the democratic republic of congo

The Department of Labor Bureau of International Labor Affairs awarded Pact, Inc. a $42 million cooperative agreement on December 31, 2025, under the International Labor Programs (CFDA 17.401) to reduce child labor and forced labor in the Democratic Republic of Congo's cobalt, copper, and 3TS (tin, tungsten, tantalum) supply chains.

Pact will deliver a formative policy and systems gap analysis; convene structured dialogue among public, private, and civil society stakeholders to establish consensus on policy and systems reform priorities; establish reform-focused working groups to advance policy reforms; provide compliance training and technical assistance to supply chain actors to align due diligence guidelines with national, U.S., and international standards; upgrade national monitoring and identification systems for child labor and forced labor; strengthen government-civil society collaboration for monitoring and enforcement; expand referral networks for remediation services for survivors; mobilize communities to support enforcement and remediation of labor violations; incubate mining company-community initiatives to address child labor and forced labor; and conduct a supply chain research study on child labor and forced labor in copper-cobalt mining along the DRC-Zambia border.

The award covers the period from December 31, 2025, through June 30, 2030, with place of performance in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo. Work will be concentrated in Haut-Katanga and Lualaba Provinces. The program objective is to secure U.S. access to fair, reliable cobalt, copper, and 3TS critical mineral supply chains free of child labor and forced labor.

To reduce child labor and forced labor in the DRC cobalt, copper, and 3TS (tin, tungsten, tantalum) supply chains, which will help secure U.S. Access to reliable critical mineral supplies and level the playing field for american workers and companies. Madini safi will work with government and private sector stakeholders to strengthen legal and policy frameworks and improve the monitoring, identification, enforcement, and remediation of child labor and forced labor in haut-katanga and lualaba provinces. Funding level requested: $4,999,832.62. Formative policy and systems GAP analysis; structured dialogue with public, private, and civil society sector stakeholders to establish consensus for policy and systems reform priorities; reform-focused working groups to advance policy reforms; compliance training and technical assistance to supply chain actors to align due diligence guidelines with national, U.S., and international standards; upgrading the national monitoring and identification systems for child labor and forced labor; strengthen government-civil society collaboration for monitoring and enforcement; expand referral networks for remediation services for survivors; mobilize communities to support enforcement and remediation of labor violations; incubate mining company-community initiatives to address child labor and forced labor; supply chain research study on child labor and forced labor in copper-cobalt mining along the DRC-zambia border. Project objective: to secure america?s access to fair, reliable cobalt, copper, and 3TS critical mineral supply chains free of child labor and forced labor in the DRC. Outcome 1: key DRC government and cobalt, copper, and 3TS supply chain actors identify and agree on priority policy and systems reforms to address child labor and forced labor (cross-cutting). Outcome 2: DRC government aligns legal, policy, and regulatory frameworks with U.S. And international trade and labor standards (focus area 1). Outcome 3: supply chain actors bring due diligence guidelines and protocols into alignment with DRC regulatory frameworks and U.S. And international standards (focus area 1). Outcome 4: DRC government and civil society strengthen systems and capacity for monitoring, identifying, and enforcing child labor and forced labor within cobalt, copper, and 3TS supply chains (focus area 2). Outcome 5: cobalt, copper, and 3TS supply chain actors strengthen systems and capacity for monitoring, identifying, and remediating child labor and forced labor (focus area 2). Intended beneficiaries. Madini safi will directly benefit key stakeholders engaged on policy reform at the national level, including government ministries and industry associations. In haut-katanga and lualaba provinces, the project will directly benefit: supply chain actors and their industry associations; workers and their unions and organizations; government agencies; civil society organizations; and communities near mineral operations. Stakeholders in other mineral producing provinces and other supply chains will benefit indirectly from an improved policy environment and best practices developed under madini safi. U.S. Workers and companies will benefit via access to fair, reliable cobalt, copper, and 3TS supply chains and a leveled playing field. Subrecipient activities. Sub-awardee initiative DES femme entrepreneurs pour LE d?veloppement durable will implement provincial-level capacity strengthening and engagement activities targeting government agencies, supply chain actors, and communities. The university of lubumbashi will support data collection and analysis for the supply chain research study. The initiative for responsible mining assurance will provide technical assistance to supply chain actors working to align their guidelines and practices with U.S. And internatio