DR Congo: Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative Support

As the extractives sector embraces increasing transparency, stakeholders face a series of new challenges. The most important challenges include avoiding data fragmentation, duplicating and dispersing available data, and providing access to actionable information for evidence-based decision making. MapX was deployed to support the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Read more below.

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Democratic Republic of Congo

Extractive Industry Transparency Initiative (EITI): Artisanal Small Scale Gold Mining.

In terms of natural resources, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is one of the richest countries in the world. It has the highest level of biodiversity in Africa, and its tropical rainforests extend over 1.55 million km2. This diversity accounts for more than half of Africa’s forest resources – making them a critical global ecosystem service provider.

Regarding non-renewable resources, the country hosts a vast array of mineral resources including globally significant reserves of cobalt. In total, the DRC’s mineral wealth is estimated to be worth US$24 trillion. The country also has one of the largest artisanal and small-scale mining workforce in the world, employing approximately 2 million people.

Given the extractive industries’ transformational potential for individual livelihoods and the country’s overall socio-economic development, the financially and environmentally sound management of the extractive industries is of paramount importance.

The Extractives Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI)

Founded in 2003, the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) is a global standard for the good governance of oil, gas and mineral resources, promoting the open and accountable management of extractive resources.

For the 51 implementing countries, adherence to EITI requirements has significantly contributed to improved governance by providing access to reliable information about company-government payments, disclosures on beneficial ownership, contracts and a range of related information critical to increasing transparency in the natural resources sector.

The DRC joined EITI in 2008, with 129 companies joining the initiative at the country level, reporting revenues totalling US$ 2 billion.

Data catalog of EITI thematic maps

MapX Support

In collaboration with the EITI and with support from the World Bank, MapX was piloted in DRC to help mainstream transparency in government systems and improve stakeholder access to financial information from EITI reports linked to the location of specific mining concessions. Where possible, financial information was also related to socio-economic and environmental performance indicators to support overall performance monitoring of the sector. MapX maps were planned to be used in the final EITI report for 2015. The specific deliverables for this project continue below.

Spatial data catalogue

MapX has established a spatial data catalogue for the Democratic Republic of Congo totalling over 50 data layers. This includes data related to natural resources, bio diversity, socio-economic and development indicators and EITI reporting data.

Secure data sandbox in a non-commercial cloud

All of the data can be managed on the MapX platform in a secure data sandbox, a designated space in the platform where policy makers can securely upload, analyse and visualize datasets without making them publicly available.

Heat map and time sliders

To visualize the evolution of different spatial phenomena over time, MapX offers a time-slider function. This functionality was developed at the specific request of DRC stakeholders and it was applied to visualize the extent and validity of mining licences over time. The heatmap was developed to visualize the intensity of extractive industries payment and production data across different regions.

Spatial information management for the Multilateral Environmental Agreements

Map layers support the increased use of spatial data in country reporting to the Minamata Convention on Mercury, the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants and the Convention of Biological Diversity (CBD). The platform will support data collection, management and visualization and facilitate and streamline reporting to the Conventions.

Time Sliders: Video Demonstration

Data Dashboard: UN Agency Visits to Mining Sites

Project Profile

Clients

Extractive Industry Transparency Initiative
World Bank
Ministry of Planning

Scale

National

Status

December 2017

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EITI DRC Overview

MapX EITI

Contact

To discuss the scope of your project or your country’s information management needs, please contact the MapX team by emailing info@mapx.org or the EITI secretariat by emailing Bady M. Balde BBalde@eiti.org

Democratic Republic of Congo

Given the extractive industries’ transformational potential for individual livelihoods and the country’s overall socio-economic development, the financially and environmentally sound management of the extractive industries is of paramount importance.

The Extractives Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI)

The DRC joined EITI in 2008, with 129 companies joining the initiative at the country level, reporting revenues totalling US$ 2 billion.

Data catalog of EITI thematic maps

MapX Support

Time Sliders: Video Demonstration

Data Dashboard: UN Agency Visits to Mining Sites

Project Profile

Clients

Scale

Status

Explore More

Contact

Story Map: Impact assessment of contamination surrounding abandoned mines and mining activities

Contact