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Mining Cooperatives in South Kivu: Saviour or Extortionist?

Looking at recent policy, ‘mining cooperatives’ appear to be the latest saviour for Congolese artisanal mineworkers. International donors and NGOs, national and provincial governments, local civil society organizations and even the private sector all have jumped on the bandwagon to promote and empower miners’ cooperatives. But do the latter really take the form of a saviour, or do they rather sustain extortion by the most powerful actors? On the basis of a field study in South Kivu province, this brief argues that mineworkers’ power positions and the distribution of wealth in artisanal mining have not been significantly altered, but that cooperatives are at risk of advancing capture and extortion by the most powerful actors.

Additional Info

Author(s)
Jorden De Haan, J de Haan, S Geenen
Publication Year
2015
Language
English
Publishing Institution Webpage
https://www.uantwerpen.be/
Data Source Classification
Other
Research Type
Secondary
Research Methodology
Secondary - PREVIOUS RESEARCH, Secondary - OFFICIAL STATISTICS
Thematic Tags
Political, Certification, Conflict, Formalization, Governance, Supply Chains, Economic, Access to Markets, Business Models, Market Linkages, Social, Community, Employment, Labor and Working Conditions, Livelihoods, Legal, Laws and Regulations
Minerals
Gold, Tantalum, Tin, Tungsten
Region
Sub-Saharan Africa
Country
Democratic Republic of Congo
Last Updated
November 2, 2020