Jamie Wallisch of Assent – the supply chain sustainability platform – visited Kolwezi , in southern DRC , to explore responsible mineral sourcing in the cobalt supply chain .
Wallisch is a Regulatory and Sustainability Expert at Assent .
Jamie Wallisch , Regulatory & Sustainability Expert , at Assent was representing the company in DRC as part of the Fair Cobalt Alliance
Fair Cobalt Alliance focus is on artisanal mining She was representing Assent as part of the Fair Cobalt Alliance ( FCA ). The FCA offers cobalt supply chain stakeholders a ‘ precompetitive environment ’ for collaboration . Pre-competitive collaboration is where companies engaged in the same industry join forces to address a pain point . Its goal is to strengthen and professionalise DRC ’ s artisanal cobalt mining sector , and to contribute to the economic development of its mining communities .
The FCA delegation comprised 30 people , from government institutions and manufacturers from multiple industries . “ Life is far from easy in the DRC ,” says Wallisch . “ It is riven with conflict , hardship and disorganisation , especially in the mining sector . Because it is the world ’ s main supplier of cobalt , this makes it a pinch point when it comes to sustainability issues .
“ We are reliant on cobalt and on the miners in the DRC ,” she says . “ The FCA offers people across the cobalt supply chain opportunities for collaboration , to help strengthen and professionalise the DRC ’ s artisanal cobalt mining sector and contribute to local economic development at large .”
The FCA ’ s trip to DRC was a bid to better understand what is happening in artisanal and large-scale cobalt mines . Artisanal mining is where a small-scale miner works
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