FINAL REPORT Bukavu, June, 2013

Transcription

1 COALITION DE LA SOCIETE CIVILE DE LA REGION DES GRANDS LACS CONTRE L EXPLOITATION ILLEGALE DES RESSOURCES NATURELLES COALITION OF CIVIL SOCIETY ORGANIZATIONS IN THE GREAT LAKES REGION AGAINST ILLEGAL EXPLOITATION OF NATURAL RESOURCES SECOND STEERING COMMITTEE MEETING FINAL REPORT Bukavu, June, 2013 From 12 to 13 June 2013, the second steering comity meeting has been held under the moderation of Mr. Prudence BARARUNYERETSE, vice president of the Burundian NGO OLUCOME and president of COSCO-GL This long-awaited meeting has benefited from financial support of the GIZ, Office of Bujumbura. In prelude, Mr. Cyprien BIRHINGINGWA MUGABO, Coordinator of CENADEP/Kivu and COSCO-GL Executive Secretary has welcomed participants, especially those from neighboring countries, namely Burundi, Uganda and Rwanda before thanking GIZ officials. Finally, he stressed on the importance of strategic partnership which exists between GIZ and COSCO-GL since the existence of the latter in August Then the Moderator has presented the agenda: - Reading and adoption of the report of the last regional steering committee meeting held in Bukavu from 15 to 16 February, 2013 ; - Evaluation of activities carried out within the framework of COSCO - GL in our respective countries ( ) - Road Map of the technical assistant recruited by the GIZ, support COSCO-GL ; - Status of national platforms; - COSCO-GL President s and National Focal Points mandate ; - Priority Actions for the next six months of 2013 referring to a strategic action plan ; - New applications for joining COSCO - GL; - Miscellaneous. 1. Reading the report of the steering committee meeting held from February, 2013

2 The report of the second meeting was read by the Executive Secretary and has been adopted without amendments. However, the Steering Committee members have wished to receive copies from the Secretariat as so to emphasize important points in order to assess recommendations achievement in terms of progress and weaknesses observed. At the same time, it has been observed that most of the points were already discussed including consultations by GIZ managers, animators and members of COSCO-GL national platforms regarding the recruitment of the Technical Assistant who will join the Secretariat of COSCO-GL, in Bukavu. On recommendations of the previous meeting, members have expressed a desire to see how to consolidate partnership with the Executive Secretariat of ICGLR and the Regional Forum of Civil Society. All members have recognized that this partnership already exists. However, there was an urgent need to formalize it. The Regional Steering Committee has noted with satisfaction that the Executive Secretary of ICGLR, Professor Ntumba Luaba has invited regional and national facilitators of COSCO-GL to the 8th Meeting of IRRN Regional Committee and the official launch of the first ICGLR/DR Congo regional mineral certificate. This meeting was scheduled from 22 to 24 July, 2013 at Grand Hotel in Kinshasa. The Steering Committee has noted that the main task of the technical assistant is to intensify strategic contacts with donors, technical and financial partners, including the European Union, the United Nations/UNDP (Francesca Cardona, Florian and other responsible), USAID, Partnership Africa Canada/PAC and the American Foundation Humanity United/HU and so many others to identify. 2. Evaluation of COSCO GL activities 2.1. The Executive Secretary presented a positive balance of activities carried out within the framework of the Coalition. These activities are mainly regional workshops for COSCO-GL member and nonmember associations capacity building on the 6 tools of the Regional Initiative fight against the Illegal Exploitation of Natural Resources. From time to time, other stakeholders representatives were involved.

3 2.2. Activities not carried out, major challenges, and elements to undertake an evaluation of activities between 2011 and 2013 were listed. Following activities have not been carried out as a result of lack of the means for their implementation: - 4 workshops successively in Kigali, Bukavu, Kampala, Goma and in Bujumbura on the dissemination of the regional certification Manual of minerals ; - realization of 6 exploratory missions in eastern DR Congo aiming at mapping actors involved in the mining sector and the organization of 6 mini-workshops for the dissemination of information and capacity building of actors involved in the Pact of security, stability and development, the regional Protocol on the fight against illegal exploitation of natural resources and the Lusaka Declaration of December 15, 2010 (IRRN), the regional certification Manual and the 6 tools, OECD due diligence for responsible mineral supply chains in conflict and high risk areas, Dodd Frank Law, criteria and principles of Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative or EITI, Manuals on traceability of 3TG sector in DR Congo,... - Contacts in Kampala aiming at raising awareness among stakeholders on the issue of illegal mining and illicit mineral trade in the Great Lakes Region and the responsibility of States and other stakeholders. The Executive Secretary has also drawn member s attention to the fact that COSCO-GL has not worked on the tool " Harmonization of legislation " of various Member States. It was thus decided that a first comparative study of the 4 States mining laws covered by COSCO-GL actions be conducted in the next few days. Similarly, COSCO-GL has not been expanded to other member countries of ICGLR which constitute ores transit zones. This is the case of Tanzania, Zambia, Sudan, the Central African Republic, Congo Brazzaville, Kenya The main achievements The Steering Committee has found that COSCO-GL has several achievements since its creation. - The program implementation has been a success;

4 -COSCO-GL members are committed and motivated. They are motivated by a spirit of volunteerism as a mean through which we can tackle more significant transparency and governance challenges of a regional mining sector in favor of economic growth and stability in the region ; - COSCO-GL member organizations have developed networking capabilities at national, regional and international level, and currently interact with stakeholders from different horizons including regional organizations, United Nations agencies, private corporations... - COSCO-GL has a functional structure, a steering committee, a Regional Executive Secretariat including four national platforms; - The Coalition operates on the basis of "guiding principles" derived from a participatory, democratic process accepted by all members; - CSOs capacity has been strengthened, especially on the six tools. Data/information collection trainings have been undertaken; - The participation of Mr. Peter KARASIRA from Rwanda, Safanto Bulongo from the DR Congo both COSCO GL members in the Independent Audit Committee is a sign of recognition by other stakeholder of the results of the work of COSCO-GL; - The existence of potential active funding partners in the Great Lakes Region and elsewhere, including OECD, the ICGLR, USAID, UNDP, the EU, PROMINES, DDI, BGR, PACT, etc. in good a good collaboration with COSCO-GL as well as organizations already supporting COSCO-GL, such as PAC-HU, GIZ, PPA is an unprecedented opportunity for the development of the coalition Major Challenges COSCO-GL is facing the following challenges: - Absence of legal recognition of COSCO-GL ; - Lack of means; - Weak deployment of national platforms across the country; - Low fundraising skills Priority actions

5 The Regional Steering Committee members have had fruitful exchanges on priority actions to be carried out in short, mid and long term. They agreed to: Carry out some activities mentioned in the COSCO-GL action plan with funds made available by Partnership Africa Canada; Start necessary procedures for legal recognition of COSCO GL. Here the members of the steering committee have instructed the Executive Secretary to collaborate with Me Albert Kabuya, in charge of program at CENADEP in Kinshasa, to carry out the necessary steps for obtaining the legal status given that the Secretariat of COSCO - GL is based in DR Congo ; Carry out advocacy and lobbying with partners in favor of supporting COSCO-GL. Here members have recommended that the Regional Executive Secretary Mr. Cyprien Birhingingwa as well as the Chairman of COSCO- GL raise efforts seeking means; Improve dialog and regular consultations with the Executive Secretariat of ICGLR and our respective governments ; Conduct a study on harmonization of mining laws in our various countries. Here the members have noted the availability of Me Albert KABUYA to participate in the study on the harmonization of the mining laws in our four countries ; Print a special bulletin listing COSCO-GL actions, a flyer, creation of an internet web site and other equipment designed to reinforce COSCO-GL visibility (t-shirt,..) ; Organize national workshops on ownership of the six tools and the regional certification Manual; Organize strategic contacts with CSOs of other countries in addition to the 4 States currently affected by COSCO-GL actions including exploratory missions in other provinces in Eastern DR Congo ;

6 On the fringe of regional workshops, organize general assemblies of COSCO-GL to possibly discuss the functioning of COSCO-GL and the implementation of the action plan Status of national platforms and relevant guidance The members have discussed on the situation within national platforms and noted the following: 4.1. Regarding the platform of Rwanda: - The need to strengthen interactions between the platform and institutional actors such as the Rwandan Office of Natural Resources, the Rwandan Federation of Mining Co-operatives, Rwanda Mining Association as well as the local authorities ; - Initiatives for promoting and defending rights of local communities living in mining areas of Musha, District of Rwamagana, in the Eastern province ; pilot project initiated by MPEDH ; - Increased Interest of Rwanda s civil society actors in the regional initiative fight against the illegal exploitation of natural resources ; - The focal point of Rwanda is nominated within the Independent Audits Committee, hence the need to reduce his tasks by appointing another focal point ; - Low participation of RISD in COSCO-GL activities and need of stimulating Rwanda s national platform and member organizations; - Lack of means to operate at the level of Rwanda s national platform Regarding the situation of Uganda s platform

7 Members have noted that COSCO-GL member organizations benefit from regional meetings, the strong synergy with the platform PWYP/Uganda and outreach campaigns on EITI directives during the international meeting on EITI in May The members have also noted the support in coaching artisanal miners of Karamoja on gold mining involving particularly the division of mines, Cooperative Associations and COSCO-GL member CSOs; COSCO-GL is very active, particularly through activities carried out by the Christian Ecological Organization led by Kabongo Isaac. The members have noted that COSCO-GL member CSOs have been invited to give their opinion on the revision of Ugandan mining code. As challenges, members have mentioned a weak coordination of the Ugandan national platform as well as the lack of means. Internal Perspectives: - Need to recruit new members ; - Undertake research on the mining sector in Uganda ; - Mainstream human rights in the mining sector; - Need capacity building for member organizations on mining issues; - Assessment of the national policy on the mining sector in Uganda: current challenges and future prospects Regarding the situation of the Burundian platform Members have been informed that in April 2013 member organizations have worked on the issue of suspension of mining activities in Burundi, and made recommendations on good practices within the framework of mining. COSCO-GL member organizations have participated actively in meetings convened by development partners including the GIZ, UNDP, and many others. The platform of Burundi organized regular consultations within the framework of the regional initiative and in relation with other issues of national interest. As major challenges, the members have noted the lack of means and need to reinvigorate the national platform.

8 As perspectives, members of the Steering Committee have noted: - Need to organize field visits in mining sites; - Need to put in place focal points in mining areas; - Need to see civil society participating actively in the process of the drafting of the Burundian mining code Regarding the situation within the national platform of DR Congo The members have noted with satisfaction that CENADEP in link with ICGLR national coordination mechanism has organized an open meeting on the regional initiative and presentation of COSCO-GL activities in Kinshasa. Results: - Ownership of COSCO-GL activities by all DR Congo CSOs involved in the fight against the illegal exploitation of natural resources; - Establishment of collaborative links between the monitoring Committee of the regional initiative in Kinshasa and the national platform. The members of the steering committee have noted that COSCO-GL member CSOs participated in various initiatives including: - The implementation of EITI in the DRC ; - Joint missions for qualification and validation of mining sites in eastern DRC ; - Monitoring and surveillance of the chain of custody of minerals; -Monitoring of various incidents in mining sites, reporting followed by alerting and meeting with the other stakeholders; - Capacity building with the military, police and intelligence service officers. The COSCO-GL members participate in various activities including mediation amongst mining companies, artisanal co-operatives and local communities as well as multi-stakeholder consultations particularly within the framework of the provincial committee for monitoring of mining activities in South Kivu. Member CSOs have carried out activities aimed at establishing a provincial fund for local development from mining revenue followed by advocacy in favor of taking into account civil society expectations in the mining code, hydrocarbons code, water code, land code, and environment code etc.

9 Recently CENADEP has organized a regional workshop on the monitoring of the compliance in the chain of custody of minerals for a conflict-free supply chain as well as inspection of mining sites in Rwanda and the DR Congo. Challenges faced by the national platform: - Weak coordination of the national platform ; - The tendency of working alone; - Low capacity for resource mobilization. Internal Perspectives: - Need to invigorate the national platform ; - Need to develop interactions with other stakeholders and this at all levels ; - Need for strengthening member CSOs on the tools of management and internal democratic governance; - Need to consolidate the junction with the national level; - Urgent need to mobilize means for activities; - Member CSOs need to undertake peer learning with CSOs of other countries particularly with regard to networking Regarding the COSCO-GL regional Executive Secretariat The Regional steering Committee has recognized efforts of the Regional Executive Secretariat in the process of establishing and supporting the Coalition. Its work has focused among other things on the following points: - Contacts with the coalition facilitators including the National Focal Points, the President and member CSOs in terms of sharing useful information; - Permanent contacts with technical and financial partners including the GIZ, DFID, USAID, MONUSCO-JMAC, ITRI/PACT, PAC, Humanity United, EU, OECD, EURAC, European Commission, PAX CHRISTI, BGR, IOM, AGEH-SCP, UNECA, etc.

10 - Advocacy and lobbying in favor visibility of COSCO-GL provided with consistent means for activities in the future, facilitation, coaching and monitoring of activities of national platforms in terms of organizing regional workshops, through missions in the 4 countries, etc Animation of workshops in terms of logistics, pedagogical support and political contacts, production and dissemination of reports related; - Motivate COSCO - GL by coaching and advising member CSOs to break with prejudice and work in synergy with other countries of the Great Lakes Region. Challenges - Lack of adequate human, material and financial resources; - Need to recruit a program manager for COSCO - GL to lighten the tasks of the Regional Executive Secretary. Future Perspectives - Mobilization of the necessary resources for the implementation of activities foreseen in action plan; - Mobilization of partners so that they provide institutional support to the Regional Executive Secretariat as well as to the National Focal Points. The Regional Steering Committee has welcomed the recruitment of a Technical Assistant provided by GIZ. - Strengthening of the collaboration with the President and the National Focal Points in terms of communication that must be improved; - Continuing the monitoring activities by civil society concerning compliance in the chain of custody of ores in the Great Lakes region including the implementation of the second phase of the project with the American Foundation Humanity United. 5. Discussion on the recruitment of the Technical Assistant by GIZ, his role and task

11 With regard to the mission of the Technical Assistant being recruited by GIZ, the Regional Steering Committee members are satisfied with his arrival within COSCO - GL and believe that he will substantially provide inputs in various activities listed in action plan, including: - Strengthening organizational and institutional skills at the level of the Regional Steering Committee, the Executive Secretariat, National Platforms relating to the specific objective 2 of the strategic action plan of COSCO - GL ; - Facilitating training workshops and dialog amongst actors involved in a strategy for strengthening networking at all levels; - Promoting the structuring, strengthening and/or consolidation of ongoing dialog between ICGLR Executive Secretariat, the technical committee on Natural Resources, development partners, and COSCO - GL as described by the specific objective 4 of the Action Plan; - Ensuring a strategic assistance to COSCO-GL actors in the establishment of contacts, networking, and activities implementation; - Supporting and advising COSCO-GL for effective and efficient implementation of its strategic action plan ; - Ensuring a support-advice in the preparation of projects/programs and coaching negotiations with authorities, donors, development partners; - Accompanying advocacy in favor of resources mobilization to support activities; - Ensuring a support-advice in the development and implementation of initiatives for transparency, social and environmental responsibility of extractive industries; - Providing a support- advice in the initiatives for the mediation of local communities including artisanal miners, mining cooperatives and extractive industries, and public authorities; Providing a support-advice in data collection, studies and field research conducted within the framework of the implementation of COSCO-GL action plan;

12 - Ensuring a technical and pedagogical support in favor of development of national platforms notably through institutional diagnostics, supporting the establishment of an appropriate management system, internal and external communication tools and developing sustainable strategic partnership. 6. Preparation of the General Assembly of the COSOC-GL The Regional Steering Committee has found that it is urgent to hold the General Assembly of the COSCO-GL so that member CSOs are informed of the remarkable development of the Coalition and are provided with relevant guidance for the consolidation of the coalition. This exercise of Democracy and accountability within the Coalition has been considered important and members agreed that resources should be mobilized for its implementation. The Regional Steering Committee has discussed on the agenda, date, and venue of the General Assembly as well as strategies for its realization. A) On the agenda The next General Assembly of COSCO-GL will include following topics: - Reading and adoption of the report of the last general assembly; - Analysis of the regional context and its impact on illegal exploitation of natural resources in the Great Lakes Region. - Presentation of the Steering Committee report (meeting of July, 2013); - Presentation of narrative and financial activity reports; - Discussion on new memberships. - Discussion on the President s and National Focal Points mandate; - COSCO-GL statement regarding the context of the Great Lakes Region to be published by organizing a press conference; - Miscellaneous B) Regarding venue

13 The members have agreed that the next General Assembly will be held in Kampala, Uganda. C) On date The members of the Steering Committee have agreed that the General Assembly would be held during the last week of the month of September D) Regarding strategies The members have instructed the Regional Executive Secretary to develop the terms of reference of the General Assembly; The President and secretary of COSCO-GL identify partners who can support this initiative and intensify contacts for effective holding of this meeting. They recommended referring to GIZ that would kindly support this meeting. The members have had fruitful exchanges on member CSOs who do not participate actively in the activities of COSCO-GL It is the case of: - RISD in Rwanda - OAG in Burundi - ECO and MAPE in Uganda. It is necessary to specify that for the DRC, all member organizations have been active in the activities carried out within the framework of COSCO-GL The Regional Steering Committee members have addressed warm congratulations for their commitment and determination to make a substantial contribution to the fight against conflict ores expansion in the region. The members have recommended the chairman of COSCO - GL to write to these organizations focus to castigate their lethargy and low commitment and the risk that they face to be delisted from the list of COSCO-GL member organizations. As regards new membership, the members it has been noted an excitement of CSOs in the Region to join the Regional Coalition.

14 Following CSOs requested to join: - In Rwanda: SOPROWOFA ; - In the RD Congo: ACIDI Uvira, Fizi SVH, Innovation and training for development based in Bukavu. - In Burundi, an organization led by Mr. Ephraim BALEMBA was also directed to the President a request for membership - In Uganda: Mr. Robert has reported another request for membership and will provide precise information in the next few days. The members have recommended that the Executive Secretariat contact these organizations and invite them to file their applications to the Focal Points in their respective countries. In turn the national focal point should report new memberships to the Steering Committee for submission to the General Assembly. 7. The mandate of the Steering Committee With regard to members, President s and National Focal Points mandate, the members have decided to include this point into the agenda of the next General Assembly in order to renew mandates of members concerned after having found that this mandate is widely exceeded. 8. On miscellaneous Me Albert KABUYA MUYEBA has drawn attention of the Regional steering Committee to the fact that he will be available to participate in the study on the harmonization of mining laws in the 4 target countries. The members of the Steering Committee Regional have stressed the need to focus on internal skills. The delegate of Rwanda has raised the concern of Transparency Rwanda to see information on budget for the implementation of activities is made available to the members. With respect to this concern, the members have noted that details on budget for the workshop were presented to all.

15 Before concluding, the Steering Committee has discussed on the launch of the Regional Certificate/ICGLR-DR Congo on 23 and 24 July, 2013 in Kinshasa, DR Congo. The members have taken note that the Executive Secretariat of ICGLR has invited the members of the COSCO - GL to this important meeting and especially the fact that the COSCOC - GL will have the opportunity to present a communication on its contribution in the IRRN implementation process and the monitoring of minerals certification in the 4 countries. This invitation addressed to the members of COSCO-GL is a sign of trust and recognition for the work done in the region within the framework of the independent monitoring of civil society in the mechanism of ICGLR. Having started at 8.30 on June 12, 2013, the 2nd Meeting of the Regional Steering Committee of COSCO-GL ended at on June 13, 2013 with holding a press conference in order to read out a declaration on the meeting at the office of CENADEP/Kivu. Bukavu, July 13, 2013 For COSCO-GL, Regional Executive Secretary, Chairman, Cyprien BIRHINGINGWA MUGABO, Prudence Bararunyeretse, Coordinator of CENADEP A. Kivu Vice-president of OLUCOME