REPUBLIC OF CONGO

The Republic of the Congo is located in Central Africa, straddling the equator. It lies between the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Cameroon, the Central African Republic (CAR), Gabon, and Angola, and has a significant potential for mineral resources.

The country covers about 342,000 square kilometers and has a population of about 6  million people, most of whom are young. The Congolese economy is not very diversified and relies heavily on oil production.

Congo has many mineral resources, especially Development Minerals used in construction. Most mining activity is still small-scale and artisanal. Even so, mining of these minerals plays an important role in generating income and supporting local livelihoods, particularly in urban and peri-urban areas where demand for construction materials is growing.

Women crush sandstone at the Kombe quarry site in Brazzaville. Located along the banks of the Congo River, Kombe is the cityâ€™s main hub for stone quarrying.

Women crush sandstone at the Kombe quarry site in Brazzaville. Located along the banks of the Congo River, Kombe is the city’s main hub for stone quarrying.

Development Minerals in Congo

Development minerals are a key part of the construction sector in Congo. Sand, gravel, granite, limestone, and clay are widely mined to meet the growing demand for infrastructure and housing.

Artisanal and small-scale mining

Artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) dominates this sector and is growing rapidly. Artisanal and small-scale mining, particularly of Development Minerals such as sand and construction materials, plays an important role in the livelihoods of many Congolese households and supplying materials for the construction industry.

250+

artisanal and small-scale mining sites across the country

+20%

increase in the number of artisanal miners over the past decade

940

artisanal and small-scale miners identified, of which 49% are women

300

miners formalized through 6 ASM associations, 70% women

340,314 m³

of sand produced by ASM miners between 2021 and 2023
(42% of national sand production)

>100,000 XAF

average monthly income for over 55% of ASM miners, but still above the national minimum wage

The ASM sector is growing in the Republic of Congo. However, mining activities remain largely informal, with limited access to finance, equipment, training, and markets. Environmental management and occupational safety also remain key concerns.

Government oversight of ASM is led by the Ministry of Mining Industries and Geology, with ongoing efforts to improve regulation, formalization, and support for artisanal miners through institutional strengthening and capacity-building initiatives.

OUR WORK IN CONGO

Data collection during the field mission for the baseline study at sand drop-off point in Kouilou department, Republic of Congo.

The ACP-EU Development Minerals Programme supports the national sustainable development priorities in the Republic of Congo by strengthening the artisanal small-scale mining sector, particularly for minerals used in construction such as sand, clay, laterite and stone.

The Programme works with national institutions, local communities, private sector and miners’ organizations to strengthen governance, improve environmental and safety practices, and develop sustainable local value chains.

LEGAL AND INSTITUTIONAL ENVIRONMENT

Strengthening the legal and institutional framework is essential for the sustainable development of the Development Minerals sector. The Programme supported better organization and formalization of artisanal and small-scale mining by:

Raising awareness among miners on formalization, health, and safety
Strengthening basic business and entrepreneurship skills
Improving understanding of legal and administrative procedures
Supporting better access to finance and more structured markets

ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL SAFEGUARDS

The Programme promoted safer and more responsible mining practices by:

- Strengthening miners’ knowledge of environmental management, health, and safety
- Raising awareness of practices to reduce environmental damage
- Promoting good environmental practices, including rehabilitation of mining sites
- Helping identify key health and safety risks and how to reduce them

These actions also contribute to improving environmental protection and reducing the negative impacts of informal mining practices.

VALUE-ADDITION AND INNOVATION

The Programme helped strengthen local value chains in Development Minerals by:

- - Supporting value addition to locally produced construction materials
  - Improving productivity, safety, and organization of mining activities
  - Strengthening technical and basic business skills of artisanal miners and quarry workers
  - Encouraging collective approaches, such as cooperatives, to improve incomes

These initiatives help increase incomes for artisanal miners while strengthening the availability of locally produced building materials.

FOCUS AREAS

Miners from the Kombe quarry, on the banks of the Congo River, take part in a focus group discussion during the gender-based mapping of artisanal and small-scale mining in Congo (Brazzaville), sharing experiences from their daily work and discussing priorities to support safer and more inclusive mining practices.

POLICIES AND INSTITUTIONS

The Programme supports the Government of the Republic of Congo in strengthening the policy and institutional framework for artisanal and small-scale mining. The goal is to encourage formalization of the sector and to support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

The Programme has helped to:

Support the strategy for developing the artisanal mining sector, including in Development Minerals, in collaboration with the Department of Small-Scale Mining, Crafts, and Quarries within the Ministry of Mines.
Develop recommendations to better integrate policies on Development Minerals into existing rules and laws

GEOLOGICAL AND MINERAL INFORMATION

Geological map and view of some mining sites of the Republic of Congo

The Programme supported improving knowledge of the country’s geological resources through field surveys, data collection and mapping activities.

Congo has many geological formations spread across several major areas, including the Mayombe range, the Niari-Nyanga and Congolese Basin areas, the Chaillu-Ivindo massif, the Batéké Plateaux, and the coastal basin. These areas contain mineral resources that are mainly used in construction and other local activities.

The Programme supported the collection and organization of geological data through field surveys, including GPS data collection, and the compilation of a database used to complete the baseline study. Existing geological and cartographic materials produced by the Ministry of Mines were consolidated and used to situate project activities geographically. This work supported authorities’ understanding of resource distribution and informed planning of small-scale mining activities with attention to environmental considerations.

The UNDP Resident Representative in Congo hands over tricycles and mining equipment to women engaged in artisanal and small-scale mining, strengthening their technical and operational capacities. These tools help improved productivity and income generation for miners.

ORGANIZATION AND FORMALIZATION OFARTISANAL AND SMALL-SCALE MINERS

The Programme supports the organization, integration into the formal economy and access to services for the artisanal and small-scale miners.

The actions carried out have resulted in:

Formalization of six artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) associations, bringing together nearly 300 members, of whom approximately 70% are women
Awareness raising among artisanal and small-scale miners on formalization processes, local taxation and support mechanisms for ASM.

ENVIRONMENTAL, SOCIAL, GOVERNANCE AND SAFETY PRACTICES

The Programme works to improve working conditions, health, safety, and environmental management in the development minerals sector in Congo, while also strengthening the skills and capacities of local actors.

Results include:

Providing 400 miners with personal protective equipment, 50% of whom are women
Building the capacity of 52 mining – sector’s participants on environmental, social, and safety issues
Improving safety and productivity for the women stone crushers’ association at the Kombé quarry, which includes around 800 members, 50% of whom are women

EMPOWERING WOMEN IN ARTISANAL MINING

Recognizing the important role women play in artisanal mining, the Programme supports actions aimed at strengthening their economic independence and participation in the sector.

These actions include:

Promoting women’s participation in mining activities
Improving their access to finance, training, and equipment
Supporting processing, marketing, and value addition activities for development minerals

These interventions aim to increase women’s incomes and encourage more equitable participation within mining communities.

A snapshot of collaborative group work during the training and awareness workshop in Brazzaville (October 2025), where 25 ASM associations engaged in discussions on the benefits of formalization, navigating administrative and legal processes, promoting responsible mining practices, and improving access to financing and markets.

Entrepreneurship and Business Development

The Programme supports entrepreneurship and skills development for artisanal and small-scale mining stakeholders to enhance productivity, improve incomes, and strengthen the overall economic viability of ASM mining activities.

The actions carried out include:

Strengthening the skills of artisanal miners to improve their production practices
Training in financial management, business planning and entrepreneurship
Training in the governance of cooperatives
Small grants provided to 437 artisanal and small-scale miners (49% women). These included the provision of more than 1,800 work tools and materials to strengthen the technical and operational capacities of 400 miners and support value addition and access to markets
Strengthening the operational and technical skills of women stone crushers and artisanal miners in the Kombé quarries
Helping artisanal miners run their activities as sustainable small businesses – more professionally and with better management – and contribute to the development of the value chains of Development Minerals.

Overview of some items manufactured by the Pottery Cooperative of People Living with Disabilities

Skills and Value-addition to Development Minerals

The Programme supports applied research, skills development, and better use of Development Minerals in the Republic of Congo. The aim is to strengthen local production of building materials and make them more accessible.

Working with the Geological and Mining Research Center (CRGM), the Programme carried out studies to better understand and identify local resources, especially clay, which is widely available in the country. These activities help artisans, small businesses, and local investors by giving them practical technical information to develop higher-value products.

Promoting local materials helps to:

Lower the cost of construction materials
Encourage local processing of raw materials
Support small businesses and job creation
Improve the technical skills of artisanal miners

These activities contribute to the promotion of environmentally friendly mining methods and construction materials to support the transition towards more sustainable building practices.

LOW-CARBON MATERIALS

The Programme promotes production of low-carbon building materials from minerals mined by ASMs by conducting training and knowledge exchange. This helps development of enterprises producing building materials that are more affordable, greener, and are better suited to local climate. It also contributes to the national goals for industrial development and sustainability.

The Programme has:

Built skills of artisans, small businesses, and technical institutions – it trained 52 artisanal and small-scale miners in how to produce low-carbon building materials from Development Minerals such as laterite and clay soil.
Supported research and knowledge-sharing by producing maps and conducting studies to help identify sources of such materials