Resources 

Shared learning is a key component of the Solutions for Hope mission, and the platform has developed several resources to describe the significant progress that has been seen on responsible sourcing, as well as the outstanding challenges, and the context for those challenges. This page also includes links to to other useful external resources:

Approaches to Enabling Responsible Sourcing

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• Direct Sourcing Pilots [webinar/podcast], featuring Mike Loch (Motorola Solutions), HRH Jaime de Bourbon Parme (Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs), and Steve D'Esposito (RESOLVE). The Solutions for Hope tantalum pilot was launched in July 2011 by Motorola Solutions and AVX as a pilot initiative to source conflict-free tantalum from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Tantalum is a metal used in capacitors for electronic products and is derived from the mineral coltan, which is in rich supply in the DRC. The Conflict-Free Tin Initiative built on the Solutions for Hope model to pilot conflict-free supply chains for tin mined in the DRC. The CFTI was founded by the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Philips, and now includes many industry and NGO partners. Mike Loch (Motorola Solutions) and Jaime de Bourbon Parme (Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs) spoke jointly about the development and success of these models, as well as considerations for applying the model to gold. Webinar version includes photos from these projects.

• Mike Loch (0:00 – 15:07) - mp3
• Jaime de Bourbon Parme (15:07 – 21:33) - mp3
• Q&A with Steve D’Esposito, RESOLVE (21:33 – 43:01) - mp3
  
  

• Early Efforts to Develop Supply Chains for Conflict Free Gold from Artisanal Scale Mines in the DRC [webinar/podcast - July 2013]. Partnership Africa-Canada (PAC) and Diamond Development Initiative (DDI) are working together to formalize and register artisanal gold producers in Orientale province of the DRC, where the bulk of the country’s gold is produced. By linking artisanal producers with customers in a closed pipe chain, the project aims create a fully transparent chain, with taxes and royalties paid to DRC government. Shortening the chain may also make it possible to offer better prices to artisanal producers. The team has recently completed the information collection phase to create a database of miners in the province, which will be linked to legal registration processes by the government. In the next phases – mechanization and tracking – it is hoped that the project will lead to the first ICGLR certified exports of clean, conflict-free DRC gold. Joanne Lebert and Shawn Blore (PAC) spoke about the goals and status of the project. Note: Due to technical problems, we had to record Joanne and Shawn separately, but the Q&A portions refer to their combined presentations. Please listen to/watch their presentations in the following order:
  

• Joanne Lebert (0:00 – 8:20) - http://resolv.adobeconnect.com/p1lh1wdv48w/ - mp3
• Shawn Blore (0:00 – 10:25) - http://resolv.adobeconnect.com/p2tfeqta0sl/ - mp3
• Joanne Q&A with Steve D’Esposito (8:20 – 23:10) - http://resolv.adobeconnect.com/p1lh1wdv48w/ - mp3
• Shawn Blore Q&A with Steve D’Esposito (10:25 – 28:36) - http://resolv.adobeconnect.com/p2tfeqta0sl/ - mp3

 

• Update/Full Project Report on PAC Conflict Free Gold Pilot [webinar - October 2014] - the pilot project described in the above webinar was funded by the Public-Private Alliance for Responsible Minerals Trade(PPA), a multi-sector and multi-stakeholder initiative to support supply chain solutions to conflict minerals challenges in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and the Great Lakes Region (GLR) of Central Africa. Joanne Lebert (Partnership Africa Canada) provided a full overview of the completed pilot to the PPA, including lessons learned.

 

Responsible Sourcing of Gold from the Great Lakes Region

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Context - Large Scale Gold Mining and Responsible Sourcing

• LBMA and Responsible Gold Sourcing in the GLR [webinar/podcast - July 2013]. The London Bullion Market Association (LBMA) is an international trade association that represents the wholesale market for gold and silver, which is centered in London but has a global client base.  The ongoing work of the Association encompasses many areas, among them refining standards, good trading practices and standard documentation. Ruth Crowell (LBMA) spoke about LBMA’s efforts and interests relating to gold sourcing from the Great Lakes Region and why an effort to source conflict-free gold from the region is of interest to LBMA and refiners. Or download the mp3.

• Ruth Crowell (0:00 – 6:03) - mp3
• Q&A with Steve D’Esposito, RESOLVE (6:03 – 23:02) - mp3
  
  

• World Gold Council Conflict-Free Gold Standard [webinar/podcast - July 2013]. The World Gold Council (WGC) is an association of many of the world’s leading gold mining companies. It serves as an advocate for gold, stimulating demand for gold and serving as a global authority on standards for gold. It recently released a Conflict-Free Gold Standard applying to LSM gold mining sites. Terry Heymann (WGC) spoke about this standard, as well as its interest in an effort to source conflict-free gold from the Great Lakes Region.

• Terry Heymann (0:00 – 15:35) - mp3
• Q&A with Steve D’Esposito, RESOLVE (15:35 – 32:15) - mp3