World vision, INC. ? Transparent, responsible, accountable critical mineral extraction (trace): a U.S.?DRC partnership to address child and forced labor in supply chain trace seeks to eliminate…

The Department of Labor Bureau of International Labor Affairs awarded World Vision Inc. a $15 million cooperative agreement on December 31, 2025, under the International Labor Programs (CFDA 17.401) to implement the TRACE project addressing child labor and forced labor in cobalt supply chains in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

TRACE seeks to eliminate child and forced labor from the DRC's cobalt supply chains, which account for 76 percent of global cobalt supply. The project strengthens Congolese institutions and supply chain governance to ensure American businesses have fair, reliable access to cobalt sourced free of exploitation. Activities include aligning the artisanal and small-scale mining sector with international labor and due diligence standards; expanding and institutionalizing a government-led child labor monitoring and remediation system; strengthening labor inspectorates through practical guidelines, training, and data integration; expanding worker rights and grievance access through community- and faith-based centers; equipping service providers to deliver education, health, and vocational remediation; mobilizing private sector investment through industry working groups and recognition mechanisms; and conducting a supply chain research study to generate evidence on child labor and forced labor risks.

Work focuses on high-prevalence zones in Kolwezi, Likasi, and Lubumbashi in Lualaba and Haut-Katanga Provinces, directly engaging artisanal and small-scale mining cooperatives, unions, inspectorates, service providers, and government institutions. The period of performance runs 54 months from award through June 30, 2030, with performance at Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo. Fiftyeight Global Limited received a sub-award on July 31, 2026, to conduct the supply chain research study.

World vision, INC. ? Transparent, responsible, accountable critical mineral extraction (trace): a U.S.?DRC partnership to address child and forced labor in supply chain trace seeks to eliminate child labor (CL) and forced labor (FL) from the democratic republic of congo?s (DRC) cobalt supply chains. Cobalt is a critical mineral for jet engines, missile guidance systems, semiconductors, and advanced batteries. Yet 76% of the world?s supply originates in the DRC, where exploitative practices in artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) and subcontracted large-scale mining (LSM) chains distort trade, undercut U.S. Firms, and hand market leverage to foreign competitors, including china, which currently controls 60% of DRC cobalt exports. Trace addresses these risks by strengthening congolese institutions and supply chain governance, ensuring american businesses have fair, reliable access to cobalt sourced free of exploitation. The project will focus on high-prevalence zones in kolwezi, likasi, and lubumbashi (lualaba and haut-katanga provinces), directly engaging ASM cooperatives, unions, inspectorates, service providers, and government institutions while indirectly benefiting workers, families, and community members. The total amount of funding requested for this project is $5,000,000 over 54 months. Trace will: (i) align the ASM sector with international labor and due diligence standards; (II) expand and institutionalize a government-led child labor monitoring and remediation system (clmrs); (III) strengthen labor inspectorates through practical guidelines, training, and data integration; (IV) expand worker rights and grievance access through trusted community- and faith-based centers; (v) equip service providers to deliver education, health, and vocational remediation; (VI) mobilize private sector investment through industry working groups and recognition mechanisms; and (VII) conduct a usdol-aligned supply chain research study to generate new evidence on CL/FL risks and structural drivers in mineral supply chains. Theory of change: if policy and legal frameworks in the cobalt sector align with international standards and are applied consistently by government and supply chain actors; and if national and local systems for monitoring and identifying CL/FL in cobalt supply chains are more effectively used by key actors; then unfair foreign competition rooted in child and forced labor will be reduced ensuring that U.S. Businesses benefit from a fair and reliable trade environment. This, in turn, will create transparent and reliable supply chains that level the playing field for american businesses, strengthen U.S. Competitiveness, and secure reliable access to critical minerals essential for, well regulated, and reputable energy, defense, and advanced manufacturing. Outcome 1: policy and legal frameworks in the cobalt sector align with international standards and are applied consistently by government and supply chain actors. Outcome 2: national and local systems for monitoring and identifying child labor and/or forced labor in cobalt supply chains are more effectively used by key actors. Direct beneficiaries include ASM cooperatives, miners and their families (including children), labor inspectorates, provincial coordination bodies (e.g., cistema), community protection networks, and local service providers. Indirect beneficiaries include U.S. Industries, particularly aerospace, defense, energy, and technology, whose competitiveness depends on secure, ethically sourced cobalt. World vision will lead trace, providing overall program management, government engagement, and systems strengthening. Subrecipients include: fiftyeight (supply chain risk assessments and digital traceability), the fair cobalt alliance (mobilizing direct industry financing for ASM reform and traceability pilots), and BON pasteur asbl (child withdrawal, education, vocational training, and household economic support).