The Impact Facility, TDi's sister organisation, co-hosted a convening with Entreprise Générale du Cobalt (EGC) at The Rockefeller Foundation's Bellagio Center from 24-28 February, 2025. The event examined strategies for transforming the DRC's artisanal copper-cobalt sector. Participants from various sectors, including government, finance, and industry, discussed approaches to responsible sourcing and community prosperity. TDi's CEO Assheton Stewart Carter took part in the meeting in his role as Founder and Chief Investment Officer with The Impact Facility. We look forward to seeing the results of the commitments that were made at the gathering and to hearing more about the resulting action at upcoming events including the OECD Forum on Responsible Mineral Supply Chains in May. #SustainableMining #ResponsibleSourcing #DRC #CobaltSector?
Last week, The Impact Facility, together with Entreprise Générale du Cobalt (EGC), co-hosted a convening at The Rockefeller Foundation’s Bellagio Center—bringing together a diverse group of stakeholders - including the DRC government, financial institutions, and commodity traders - to explore how the country’s vast artisanal copper-cobalt wealth can be transformed into sustainable community prosperity. This convening was among a select few chosen from over 600 applications, the critical importance of this dialogue in the global drive for responsible mineral sourcing and a just energy transition. ?? Why This Matters Artisanal cobalt mining in the DRC provides direct employment to 150,000–250,000 miners and supports over a million livelihoods. However, despite ongoing efforts, much of the sector remains informal, unsafe, and lacking robust governance. With cobalt being essential to the global battery supply chain, ensuring responsible production and sourcing isn’t just a local necessity—it’s a global responsibility. ?? Key Outcomes Over three days, participants? laid the groundwork for a responsible and scalable ASM sector, focusing on how to : ? Strengthen governance through inter-agency coordination and policy alignment ? Scale responsible ASM business models to ensure both economic viability & ESG compliance ? Mobilise financing for ASM formalisation, unlocking new investment opportunities ? Drivie demand for responsibly sourced ASM cobalt within global supply chains ?? The Road Ahead This convening wasn’t just about discussions—it led to tangible commitments that will drive action throughout 2025. Key milestones will be shared at OECD Forum on Responsible Mineral Supply Chains, DRC Mining Week, and EU Raw Materials Week. ?? Want to learn more? Read the full blog here: https://lnkd.in/dECz_rK4 We extend our sincere gratitude to The Rockefeller Foundation and The Bellagio Center for hosting this critical dialogue, and to all participants—both in-person and online—for their dedication to drive continuous progress. #ResponsibleCobalt #ASM #SustainableMining #EnergyTransition #BellagioConvening Photo credit: The Bellagio Centre
