BGR Support to Mineral Certification in Rwanda – Roadmap on Recent Progress

Nov-Dec 2011: RINR SCOM formally approves the Regional Certification Mechanism (RCM)

manual and appendix; the RCM includes CTC standards as “progress criteria” (that is, monitored

but not enforced)

Jan-Feb 2012: Consultations on the development of a new mine inspection template (checklist) in

Rwanda, integrating national and RCM standards, start; inspector field training on health and

safety; draft and consultations on national regulation for RCM implementation framework in RWA

Feb 2012: RNRA, BGR, and ICGLR formally enter into MOU to implement

certification/formalization support project in RWA

Mar 2012: project planning workshop with ICGLR, BGR, GIZ, PAC, Rwandan and Burundian

counterparts in Bujumbura; MINIRENA issues comprehensive regulation on RCM implementation

in RWA; certification workshop at LMU regarding lessons learnt/best practice in global certification

initiatives

May 2012: initial progress on certification is presented by Rwandan counterparts at ICGLR-OECD-

UN forum in Paris; BGR supports organization of the election of the ICGLR audit committee

member for the Rwandan private sector

Jun 2012: BGR and RMCA support the organization of a peer learning exchange program on

certification, traceability, and formalization: Burundian delegation tours Rwanda for one week

July 2012: BGR is nominated to oversee SCBI capacity building regarding capacity building on

mineral certification in RWA; RBS and RNRA enter into MOU regarding the establishment of a

Certification Unit for ICGLR certification of export shipments;

July-Aug 2012: update of mine inspection template; successful field testing of new inspection

template at four Rwandan mines (eventually until November), supported by BGR; optimization and

finalization of inspection template taking into account practical lessons from the field; export

certification trial runs start with several exporters in Kigali under coordination of the Certification

Unit; draft export certification procedures are developed and optimized in collaboration with mineral

exporters

Oct 2012: training of two RNRA counterparts on AFP sample preparation at BGR labs in Germany;

inaugural meeting of ICGLR audit committee in Kigali

Nov 2012: BGR supports attendance of RNRA counterparts to ICGLR SCOM in Bujumbura, and

preparation of information documents for upcoming international meetings

Dec 2012: RNRA counterparts present progress at the ICGLR-OECD-UN forum in Paris

Feb-Mar 2013: RNRA laboratory in Kigali is renovated to serve as AFP sample preparation center;

BGR organizes health and safety short course for mine inspectors; pilot baseline evaluation of

chain of custody systems in RWA against ICGLR standards

Mar-Apr 2013: BGR supports broad-scale RNRA mine inspection program; associated outreach

workshops in all Rwandan provinces to inform miners, local authorities, and security organs on

ICGLR RCM and national standards

May 2013: RNRA counterparts present progress at the ICGLR-OECD-UN forum in Paris and the

EICC-GeSI workshop in Hong Kong

Jun 2013: meeting of Certification Unit Steering Board, taking decisions on procurement

procedures and funding of ICGLR export certificates

Jul 2013: AFP preparation laboratory center opens in Kigali

Aug-Sep 2013: BGR commissions study to develop ICGLR third party audit methodology, in

collaboration with the ICGLR audit committee