Minister Updates Child Welfare Project in Cobalt Supply Chain
During a council meeting on Friday, March 21, Minister of Social Affairs, Humanitarian Actions, and National Solidarity, Modeste Mutinga, shared the interim outcomes of a project aimed at removing children from artisanal cobalt mines and transitioning their families into agribusiness.
The initiative seeks to provide economic alternatives to diversify the local economy and offer socio-professional integration opportunities for the population.
Key achievements include the support of 13,587 children, who were referred to schools near cobalt mining sites in Haut-Katanga and Lualaba.
Additionally, plans are in place to construct 18 social facilities in Haut-Katanga and 14, including three schools, in Lualaba, with ground-breaking scheduled for April and inauguration set for August 2024.
In terms of economic retraining, 10,552 parents and 8,226 young individuals have received support. The Center for the Promotion of Youth Entrepreneurship in Agribusiness (CPEJAB) in Haut-Katanga is 91% complete, while Lualaba’s progress stands at 89%.
Furthermore, the project aims to establish 1,250 agricultural cooperatives for parents and young people across various stages of the agricultural value chain to empower households economically and sustain the social welfare of children leaving mining sites.
