High-Level Engagement in the DRC Accelerates Implementation of the Voluntary Principles Action Plan
On 15 September 2026, DCAF supported the government of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in organizing a roundtable discussion focused on commemorating the DRC’s accession to a full government member of the Voluntary Principles Initiative (VPI) and accelerating the implementation of the National Action Plan (NAP) on the VPs. The meeting was chaired by the Minister of Human Rights, Samuel Mbemba, with support from DCAF and the Swiss embassy. The discussion aimed to take stock of progress made in implementing the NAP and establish strategic priorities to strengthen coherence and complementarities across implementing stakeholders.
The meeting brought together representatives from government agencies, the private sector, technical and financial partners and civil society organizations. Discussions took place during a panel discussion featuring Mr. Michael Kiangani, a representative of the Minister of Human Rights; Ms. Dagmar Schmidt Tartagli; Ms. Bernadette Mpundu, representative of the Chamber of Mines; and Mr. Timothé Mbuya from Justicia Asbl., the leader of the VPs Working Groups in Haut Katanga and Lualaba.
The event was reported in the press, with a segment on the national televised news as well as news articles, thus highlighting the national government’s commitment to further implementing the NAP.
From 14 - 18 September 2026, DCAF was present in Kinshasa with a delegation composed of Ms. Dagmar Schmidt Tartagli, deputy director of the Peace and Human Rights Division and Mr. Frédéric Chenais, Senior Business and Human Rights Adviser of the Swiss Federal Department for Foreign Affairs.
Several meetings were held with key actors to promote the DRC’s government’s new status as full member of the Voluntary Principles Initiative and renew engagement at the highest level to implement DRC’s National Action Plan.
Discussions on the interconnection between the VPs and the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights sparked interest among key stakeholders, such as the Minister of Human Rights, the UN Joint Human Rights Office (JHRO) and the UN Development Programme (UNDP), to ensure a coordinated implementation of both standards, developing nationally owned tools which can enable mining sector reform promote economic development in DRC. Among the organizations met were the Minister of Human Rights and the Minister of Mines, UNJHRO, UNDP, and ambassadors of VPI member states such as the United Kingdom, Canada and the Netherlands.
