19–20 March 2026 | Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo
The PanAfGeo+ Country Window for the Democratic Republic of the Congo (CW DRC) was officially launched on 19–20 March 2026 in Kinshasa, bringing together representatives from the Ministry of Mines of the DRC, the European Union Delegation, European and African partners, geological institutions, technical experts, and stakeholders from across the mining and geoscience sectors.
Held at the Hotel Pullman in Kinshasa, the event marked an important milestone in strengthening Africa–Europe cooperation in geosciences, critical raw materials, and sustainable mineral development.
The opening session featured remarks from Fabrice Basile, Chargé d’affaires a.i. of the EU Delegation in the DRC, Laurent Sillano from DG INTPA, and H.E. Louis Watum Kabamba, Minister of Mines of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. During the ceremony, the Terms of Reference for the PanAfGeo+ Country Window DRC were officially signed, reaffirming the shared commitment between European and Congolese partners to jointly implement the initiative.
The PanAfGeo+ Country Window DRC is coordinated by BRGM – the French Geological Survey – in collaboration with the Congolese Geological Survey (SGN-C) and a broad consortium of European and Congolese partners. The initiative aims to support the Ministry of Mines and national institutions in strengthening geoscientific capacity, improving geological data acquisition and management, and promoting responsible investment opportunities in the mining sector.
The project is structured around five main work packages:
- Evaluation of Geological Research Zones (ZRG)
- Development and management of the Geological Digital Database (BNDG)
- Evaluation of artisanal mining zones, mining waste and decarbonisation activities
- Capacity building and technical training
- Project management, coordination and communication
The discussions highlighted the importance of geological knowledge in supporting informed decision-making, reducing investment risks, and strengthening sustainable resource governance in the DRC. Participants also emphasised the need to progressively improve access to geological data and reinforce institutional cooperation.
Throughout the meeting, international partners including AfricaMuseum, BRGM Explore, FERDI, ILB, AWIMA/WIM DRC, DMT-KB and LGI presented their planned contributions to the project, ranging from geological assessments and mapping activities to ESG training, investment facilitation, communication, project management, and stakeholder engagement.
The second day focused on technical coordination and implementation procedures, including timelines, governance structures, financial regulations, stakeholder responsibilities, and upcoming operational actions across all work packages.
Participants further discussed the importance of long-term cooperation between African institutions, European Geological Surveys, universities, development partners, and local stakeholders in strengthening geological knowledge and supporting sustainable development linked to critical raw materials in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
The PanAfGeo+ programme is funded by the European Union under the Global Gateway strategy and implemented through partnerships between African and European geological surveys and institutions.
