This project strengthens the capacity of civil society organizations in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to monitor revenue management practices in the mining sector and to advocate for more equitable distribution of resource revenues at the regional level. 

The DRC became an EITI candidate country in 2008, but public debate around the oil, gas and mining industries sector remains very limited. Civil society organizations (CSO) do not have enough technical and organizational capacity to allow them to effectively participate in industry decision making processes. 

In 2008, the mining industry’s contribution to the national economy was 14.5%. Despite this natural resource wealth, the majority of the population lives in poverty and does not have access to basic services.  Corruption is widespread and the practices of public officials and political party representatives are not transparent.

With Revenue Watch support, Action Against Impunity for Human Rights (ACIDH) is working with Katanga CSOs to research and write a report on how mining revenues are collected, distributed and spent in Katanga, and whether or not they contribute to socio-economic development. ACIDH and the CSOs will then disseminate the information to the general public in Katanga.

ACIDH’s research also allows entities not involved in this project to advocate for increased revenue collection and spending at the sub-national level–something that is stipulated in the DRC’s constitution, but not followed in practice.

Action Against Impunity for Human Rights is a human rights defense organization based in Lubumbashi, DRC.