Lessons Learnt from the Voluntary Principles Working Group in South Kivu

Description

This study identifies lessons learned from the experiences of the Working Group on the Voluntary Principles on Security and Human Rights in South Kivu in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The Working Group was established in 2018 as part of a project implemented by DCAF in partnership with local NGO partner OGP with the support of the Dutch Embassy in the DRC. The pilot project supported the core of the Working Group’s activities for two and a half years from July 2018 through December 2020.

The study identifies and shares lessons learned and good practices from the South Kivu Working Group’s experience to date, reflecting on the Working Group’s strengths, its impact, and the ways in which it has built up local capacity to address challenges. It also provides insights for governments, local and international civil society organizations, as well as private companies operating in similarly challenging environments on how they can learn from tested multi-stakeholder approaches and apply a coherent, effective approach to Voluntary Principles implementation alongside other human rights and responsible supply chain initiatives.

Three case studies illustrate the impact of the Working Group through their work on the mining sites of Nyabibwe, Bitale, and Twangiza.