The Public-Private Alliance for Responsible Minerals Trade (PPA) is a platform for bolstering ethical sourcing of minerals and maximizing benefits to communities where minerals are produced. A multi-sector initiative between leaders in civil society, industry, and government, the PPA seeks to improve the due diligence and governance systems needed for ethical supply chains, by working to understanding key barriers, testing and amplifying promising solutions, and promoting alignment across key stakeholder groups.
PPA 2nd Data for Impact Symposium
The PPA hosted its second Data for Impact Symposium on February 22, 2024. Presentations included a gendered lens on due diligence programming in Eastern DRC; a case study on mine site assessments in Tanzania; a tool for human rights impact assessments; IRMA audit reports; guidance for negotiating and implementing community development agreements; and IPIS’ responsible mining scorecard. Videos of the presentations are now available in French and English.
The PPA works to promote ethically and economically sound minerals supply chains, due diligence systems, and governance that uphold human rights and labor rights, support environmental responsibility, eliminate links to armed conflict and corruption, and maximize benefits to the communities where minerals are produced. We leverage our members' collective knowledge, influence, networks, and financial resources to inform global responsible minerals sourcing efforts through exploration of key gaps, testing of prospective solutions, convening to promote alignment, and broad amplification of insights and proven models.
For more information about our goals and intended impacts, please see our Results Framework.
From 2011 - 2022, the PPA's work focused primarily on artisanal tin, tantalum, tungsten and gold (3TG) in the Great Lakes Region (GLR) of Central Africa. PPA Participants have a mutual interest in advancing alignment of systems in support of conflict-free mineral supply chains from the GLR. For an overview of our work and impacts from 2011 - 2022, please see PPA Contributions to Responsible Minerals Trade.
Beginning with the renewal of its MOU in 2023, the PPA has broadened its scope. While 3TG in the GLR remains a key priority, the PPA is additionally interested in supporting progress on other minerals and geographies of importance to a global energy transition. Recognizing that large-scale minerals production will be a key part of that transitions, it is also now also part of the PPA's scope. More coming soon on impacts in 2023 and beyond.
The PPA is led by a Governance Committee comprised of PPA Participant representatives from government, industry, and civil society. The current Governance Committee members are below:
The following list represents organizations that have completed formal enrollment in the recently renewed PPA partnership (2023-2027). A number of additional organizations (including those which have been historic members of the PPA) are currently undergoing standard enrollment processes. This list will be updated periodically.
Acer
International Conference on the Great Lakes Region
Africa Faith and Justice Network
International Peace Information Service
Alliance for Responsible Mining
Levin Sources
Amazon
Microsoft
Apple
Nokia
Cisco Systems
NVIDIA
Colorado School of Mines
OECD Centre for Responsible Business Conduct (Observer)
Dell
Pact
Ford Motor Company
Project on Resources and Governance
General Motors
RESOLVE (Secretariat)
GIZ
Responsible Minerals Initiative
Global Advanced Metals
Rivian
Solidaridad
Grassroots Reconciliation Group
The Impact Facility
Halcyon
The Sentry
Hewlett Packard Enterprise
Trust Merchant Bank
HP Inc.
USAID
Hypertec
U.S. Department of Labor
IMPACT
U.S. Department of State
Intel
University of Delaware Minerals Materials and Society Program
Significant progress has been made in the last decade to scale up minerals due diligence processes, with initiatives such as the PPA driving forward a shared interest in improving local impacts and benefits. Investment in due diligence programs, community initiatives, and development projects has begun to support outcomes with direct links to mining as well as community-oriented impacts. However, there remains an apparent data gap in understanding either comparative or cumulative impacts of these interventions and the benefits sought by both local communities and international stakeholders, hindering informed decision-making and action for future investments.
The PPA's Data for Impact Symposiums profile existing tools, methodologies, models, indicators, systems, and other approaches that could provide a basis for a sustainable, just framework to build data sets and analysis and inform future action for improved socioeconomic outcomes and local benefits.
See below for links to recordings and additional resources from the PPA's February 2024 Symposium, and our 2022 Inaugural Symposium.
On February 22, 2024, the PPA hosted its second virtual Data for Impact Symposium profiling tools, models, and other approaches that can inform and enhance future action for improved socioeconomic outcomes and local benefits. The event featured six speakers covering tools including a gendered lens on due diligence programming in Eastern DRC; a case study on mine site assessments in Tanzania; a tool for human rights impact assessments; IRMA audit reports; guidance for negotiating and implementing community development agreements; and IPIS’ responsible mining scorecard. Links to recordings and additional resources are below.
Mine Site Assessment Tool Case Study (Tanzania): Alpha Ntayomba, Population and Development Initiative
Adopted from the Responsible Mining Foundation, the Mining Site Assessment Tool (MSAT) helps establish constructive dialogue and actions by mining operators, government actors, and other local stakeholders to protect the environment and promote sustainable social and economic wellbeing. Outcomes of dialogues facilitated by the MSAT include environmentally-friendly pit construction, prevention of deforestation caused by construction, and the elimination of harmful materials in gold processing. The tool has gained traction among gold mining communities Tanzania’s Geita region, and the Population and Development Initiative aims to scale the tool’s use in surrounding areas.
Responsible Mining Scorecard (Eastern DRC): Thomas Muller and Ken Matthysen, IPIS
By summarizing a wide range of first-hand field data collected in eastern DRC by IPIS, the Responsible Mining Scorecard (RMS) aims to assess ASM sites against different indicators of responsible mining, namely security, health and safety, presence of state services, and level of formalization. To provide further contextualization on working conditions, as well as to help prioritizing areas to set-up responsible sourcing initiatives, the RMS also considers production and accessibility to the mining sites as two additional indicators.
Resource-ful Empowerment (Eastern DRC): Dr. Jocelyn Kelly, Harvard Humanitarian Initiative
An Evidence-based Approach to Supporting Inclusive and Effective Due Diligence Programming. This presentation describes the Resource-ful Empowerment intervention, developed by local community actors and an academic university. Through rigorous testing, the intervention has been shown to reduce violence and improve environmental outcomes in small-scale mining towns in conflict-affected and high risk areas (CAHRA). This approach can help improve equity and human rights in towns participating in due diligence programs.
Questions & Answer - ASM Focus: All ASM presenters; Moderated by Marcin Piersiak, Executive Director Europe, Alliance for Responsible Mining
IRMA Audit Tool: Kristi Disney Bruckner, Pierre Petit-De Pasquale and Michelle Smith, IRMA
The Initiative for Responsible Mining Assurance (IRMA) audit reports serves as a versatile tool for quantitative and qualitative data collection to support improved environmental and social performance in transition mineral supply chains. IRMA audit reports are based on a multi-stakeholder governed standard and system, site-level engagement with local workers and affected communities, and comprehensive assessment and public reporting across over 400 data points. IRMA audit reports cover a wide range of transition minerals, providing an unprecedented level of site-level information under a standard and system that are aligned with the objectives of upstream and downstream companies as well as workers, civil society, and other stakeholders and rights holders.
Human Rights Impact Assessment Guide: Fabien Mayani, The Carter Center
The HRIA Guide is a tool aimed at assessing foreign investments in host countries and promoting due diligence standards through a science- and human rights-based approach to reporting on positive and negative impacts on affected populations. Initially developed by the organization Rights & Democracy, the tool relies on a participatory and transformative process of research and analysis involving local communities, state services, and company representatives. Based on well-defined steps, the HRIA Guide facilitates credible assessment of projects’ impacts within the human rights framework and standards at the national, regional, and international level.
Negotiation and Implementation of Community Development Agreements (DRC): Dhanis Rukan, The Carter Center
The Practical Guide on Negotiation and Implementation Processes of Community Development Agreements, cahier des charges, is a toolbox developed by The Carter Center's Extractive Industries Governance Program to ensure inclusive identification and effective implementation of social investments that mining companies must carry out as a legal requirement under the 2018 revised DRC Mining Code. The Guide provides practical guidance and solutions to ensure effective negotiation, approval, implementation, and monitoring of social projects for sustainable socio-economic benefits and improvement of the living conditions for local communities.
Questions & Answer - LSM Focus: All LSM Presenters; Moderated by David Sturmes, Director of Business Innovation and Fundraising at The Impact Facility
On Wednesday, June 29, 2022, the PPA hosted its inaugural, virtual Data for Impact Symposium. Six speakers shared the latest findings on corporate conflict minerals disclosures, mechanisms for due diligence data collection and management, innovative financial access models for artisanal miners, and more.
Links to recordings and additional resources are below.
Difference-in-Differences Analysis (Keynote): Omri Even-Tov; University of California, Berkeley
Section 1502 of the Dodd-Frank Act requires Securities and Exchange Commission issuers to perform supply chain due diligence and prepare conflict minerals disclosures indicating whether their products contain tin, tungsten, tantalum, or gold sourced from the Democratic Republic of the Congo or its nine neighboring countries. A recent research paper examines this regulation’s impact on firms’ sourcing behaviors and whether this change in practice mitigates conflicts in the Great Lakes Region.
Datastake: Benjamin Clair, BetterChain
Datastake is an incentivized data management platform connecting information holders in countries of mineral origin with international buyers, investors, and partners. It implements the Consolidated Automated Due Diligence (CADD) framework to eliminate upstream compliance costs, facilitates locally-led monitoring of development interventions against the UN SDGs, and is used by banks to onboard ASM actors through triangulated KYC/AML checks.
The Crowdsourcing App for Responsible Production in Africa (CARPA): Robert Masua Bwana and Michelle Westermann-Behaylo, University of Amsterdam
CARPA is a platform developed to allow users to report and engage with tech-based initiatives aiming to promote due diligence and responsible production in Sub-Saharan Africa. Designed as an open platform based on crowd-sourcing principles, CARPA aims to give all participants equal visibility when attempting to address incidents that may occur due to business activity as well as allow for the promotion of initiatives that are intended to improve the lives of affected stakeholders in Africa.
Implementation and Evaluation of Conditional Microcredit for Artisanal and Small-Scale Miners: Jihae Hong, Project on Resources and Governance
This two-pronged approach proposes 1) a microcredit scheme that can be accessed by miners who meet conditions related to formalization and/or regulatory compliance, and 2) a measurement tool to evaluate the conditional microcredit scheme, including data collection instruments and a random, control trial.
Bloom by IMPACT: Joanne Lebert and Gerard van der Berg, IMPACT
Bloom by IMPACT is an impact monitoring system which allows stakeholders to have evidence supply chains are free from risks and report on progress against the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Environmental, Social and Corporate Governance targets. This monitoring and evaluation tool empowers users to understand how their supply chain affects communities. With BLOOM, users can learn how they are positively contributing to local benefits, identify opportunities for improved practices, and leverage data to seed change.
Using Remote Sensing to Map Artisanal Mining in Sub-Saharan Africa: Tamma Carleton, MOSAIKS
Remote sensing utilizes a new computational infrastructure that dramatically lowers the computational cost and, thus, allows users to expand the prediction and mapping of ASM activities across various mineral types and terrains in sub-Saharan Africa. These predictions can inform regulators and watchdog groups that monitor the extent of ASM activity and track its impacts.
The PPA is composed of supply chain actors, governments, foundations, and civil society organizations. Each sector brings unique expertise and contributions, and each benefits from the opportunity to collaborate across sectors. For information on the benefits each sector experiences, please see the appropriate category below:
The PPA is comprised of Participants from corporate, government, and civil society sectors. PPA Participants are committed to collaboratively achieving the objectives of the PPA. Multi-stakeholder representation is one the primary strengths of the PPA and key attribute of decision-making.
The PPA membership process includes an expression of interest, a due diligence process, signature of the MOU, and other process requirements. If your organization is interested in PPA participation, please complete this expression of interest and submit it to RESOLVE (ppa@resolve.ngo).
Please direct any inquiries about the PPA to RESOLVE (ppa@resolve.ngo).
At RESOLVE, we’re here to tackle the toughest global challenges. The ones nobody else wants to touch. Where people are in conflict and planet problems are stuck. We’re here to unstick them. It’s not easy. It takes grit and ingenuity. And finding and working with the right partners. But we’re not called RESOLVE for nothing.
