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As the conflict minerals sector reforms, we must ensure that previously employed miners find other sources of livelihood in eastern Congo.

Overview

As eastern Congo's mining communities transition from the conflict minerals trade to legitimate business, people will need targeted assistance to help them find meaningful sources of non-mining related livelihoods and cope with the ongoing challenges of living in an area long plagued by conflict.

Current Policy

The U.S. Agency for International Development, or USAID, just put out a $20 million request for proposals for a livelihood program. Over the next 4 years the Community Recovery and Livelihoods Project, or CRLP, will target 80,000 people affected by sexual violence and the conflict minerals trade in eastern Congo.

Three Focus Areas:

1. Livelihoods work through support to agriculture, market access, alternative livelihoods to the minerals sector, and gender role dialogues to empower Congolese women.
2. Civil society support through aid to civil society in capacity building, advocacy support, and women’s participation.
3. Community conflict resolution through infrastructure construction, women’s participation, and community conflict management structure support.

About the Community Recovery and Livelihoods Project, or CRLP:

• Focus on communities where sexual violence and gender inequalities are considered major challenges to stability and reconciliation.
• Address potential drivers of intra/inter-community conflict.
• Increase citizen participation in community-based and civil society institutions
• Improve economic opportunities
• Include a wide range of community members, from entrepreneurial "managers" to more marginalized and vulnerable citizens.

The proposal is posted at http://1.usa.gov/n9bMq7.

Solutions

The Enough Project has called repeatedly for a something like the CRLP, and we applaud USAID for this initiative.

• We hope that part of this project can target the vulnerable communities in conflict minerals mining areas.
• This program must also be carried out in a transparent and grassroots-oriented manner, so that grassroots communities indeed receive direct, tangible benefits from the projects funded by USAID.
• We agree with USAID that, “in order to consolidate recovery gains, both the more productive and entrepreneurial as well as the more marginalized and vulnerable members of society must be included." USAID therefore intends for the project to work along this spectrum, ensuring the inclusion of victims of violence, particularly women and girls.