Fair Cobalt Alliance (FCA)

What Fair Cobalt Alliance (FCA) does

The Fair Cobalt Alliance (FCA) is a non-profit multi-stakeholder action platform founded in August 2020 to professionalize artisanal and small-scale (ASM) cobalt mining in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). FCA brings together actors across the cobalt supply chain — mining companies, battery and electronics manufacturers, traders, automakers, NGOs, and investors — to mobilize investment and deliver on-the-ground improvements in working conditions, child rights, and economic resilience in mining communities in Lualaba and Haut-Katanga provinces. It is managed operationally by The Impact Facility (TIF), a social enterprise, and is governed by an Advisory Board.

FCA's core commercial-adjacent mechanism is the Responsible Mining Credits (Cobalt Credits) system, co-developed with Fairphone, which generates one credit per tonne of verified cobalt produced at partner ASM mines; credits are purchased by downstream cobalt users at an agreed USD 5,000 per tonne price, and proceeds fund mine improvement projects. Additional products include the Child Labour Remediation Hub (built with Save the Children and The Centre for Child Rights and Business) and a Research & Tools portfolio, including the ASM Cobalt Framework co-developed with the Responsible Cobalt Initiative and Responsible Minerals Initiative. FCA runs a Monitoring & Evaluation framework using result chains and annual perception surveys at the Kamilombe mine site.

FCA's business model is non-profit and multi-source: revenue streams comprise membership contributions from signatories of the Call to Action, development grants and public financing, and private-sector funding from supply-chain companies. Membership is global with operations concentrated in the DRC; the organization maintains offices in Kolwezi (operational hub), London, Nairobi, and Amsterdam. With approximately 21 members as of 2024 (including Glencore, Tesla, Google, LG Energy Solution, Fairphone, and CMOC) and a USD 1.4M approved 2024 operating budget, FCA functions as a convening platform rather than a product company.

Name

Fair Cobalt Alliance (FCA)

Legal name

Fair Cobalt Alliance

Website

https://faircobaltalliance.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2020

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Fair Cobalt Alliance (FCA) is a DRC-rooted multi-stakeholder non-profit platform that professionalizes artisanal cobalt mining by convening supply-chain companies, NGOs, and the DRC government around Cobalt Credits, child labour remediation, and economic resilience programs for ASM communities.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Responsible Mining Coalition Services

NAICS

Professional Organizations (81392)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Technical Committees, Working Groups & Expert Panels (BPADANAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Fraud Risk Management & Anti-Bribery/Anti-Corruption (ABAC) (BPAHAFAL), Regulatory Change Management (RCM) (HDADAIAG)

Keywords

• Artisanal cobalt mining
• Responsible mining credits
• Supply chain due diligence
• Child labour remediation
• Mining sector formalisation

Headquarters

HQ city

Kolwezi

HQ country

Congo - Kinshasa

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Others, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Membership Contributions: All members of FCA are signatories of the Call to Action, contributing resources to the integrated FCA program. Membership dues vary by organization type.
2. Development Grants and Public Financing: The FCA receives funding from development grants and public financing sources to support ASM formalization programs.
3. Private Sector Funding: Financing from companies across the supply chain, including battery manufacturers, automakers, and technology companies committed to responsible sourcing.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

FCA is a multi-stakeholder action platform that mobilises investment across the cobalt supply chain to strengthen and professionalise the artisanal cobalt mining sector in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It delivers on-the-ground improvements through a Cobalt Credits mechanism (responsible mining credits), a Child Labour Remediation Hub, economic resilience programmes such as Village Savings and Loan Associations, and supply-chain convening activities connecting miners, cooperatives, member companies, civil society, and DRC government agencies.

Product overview

The Fair Cobalt Alliance operates as a multi-stakeholder action platform focused on transforming the artisanal cobalt mining sector in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Rather than offering a unified software product, FCA coordinates a portfolio of programs: the Cobalt Credits mechanism provides a market-based pathway for companies to invest in responsible mining practices; the Child Labour Remediation Hub delivers direct support to affected children through local partners; and the Research & Tools collection—including the ASM Cobalt Framework and annual impact reports—offers guidance and transparency on sector progress. These offerings work together to professionalize ASM sites, eliminate child labour, and increase economic resilience in mining communities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Cobalt Credits A market-based credit mechanism, analogous to energy attribute certificates, that issues one credit per tonne of cobalt produced at verified partner ASM mines. Downstream cobalt users (battery makers, OEMs, electronics brands) purchase credits to channel investment into mine improvements, health and safety, and child labour prevention.
• Child Labour Remediation Hub A programme delivered with Save the Children and The Centre for Child Rights and Business that identifies children at risk or engaged in mining at ASM sites and refers them to local remediation partners (Maison Kwetu, Maison Mapendo) for case management, school enrolment, medical support, and vocational training.
• ASM Cobalt Framework A normative ESG framework, jointly developed with RCI and RMI, that defines progressive management requirements for ASM cobalt sites and provides the technical reference for ARECOMS's inclusive ASM framework.

Quantifiable outcome

• 20 children identified and enrolled in sanitation program; 7 junior case managers trained; 18 children receiving ongoing remediation support; 162 months of remediation support provided
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers11 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• SAEMAPEcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 July 2026DRC government agency responsible for assisting and supervising artisanal and small-scale mining. FCA signed a five-year MoU with SAEMAPE at DRC Mining Week 2026 to strengthen ASM formalization in DRC.
• The Impact FacilitycoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerThe Impact Facility (TIF) is the organization that manages and supports FCA operations. Founded in 2018, TIF is a social enterprise dedicated to driving small-scale mines professionalization and provides the operational infrastructure for FCA programs.
• Better MiningminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMonitors ASM mine sites and surrounding areas for incidents and risk areas. FCA signed an MoU to coordinate actions on mine sites where both organizations are active to avoid duplication of efforts.
• Cobalt for DevelopmentminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInitiative with common goals for positive impact on working conditions for artisanal miners. FCA engaged in ongoing conversations for collaboration on mine site improvement plans and cooperative capacity building.
• European Partnership for Responsible Minerals (EPRM)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEPRM collaborated with FCA, Fairphone, and European Commission for a multi-day visit to partner mine site in Kolwezi to see progress of the Responsible Mining Credits system.
• Global Battery Alliance (GBA) - Cobalt Action PartnershipcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFCA is an active partner in GBA Cobalt Action Partnership (CAP) and has agreed to technically advise ARECOM on developing an inclusive framework for ASM development based on FCA's initial ESG framework.
• Responsible Cobalt Initiative (RCI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint development of ASM Cobalt Framework with RCI and Responsible Minerals Initiative (RMI) to codify progressive ESG management requirements.
• The Rockefeller Foundation (Bellagio Center)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHosted landmark convening at Bellagio Center to tackle challenges and unlock opportunities linked to artisanal small-scale copper-cobalt sector in DRC.
• CMDS (Coopérative Minière pour le Développement Social)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal mining cooperative managing Kamilombe mine site since 2004. FCA partners with CMDS to implement mine improvement programs and child labour remediation activities.
• Maison KwetucoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerLocal remediation partner engaged by Child Labour Remediation Hub. Trained in child protection, financial management, case management, and transparent reporting.
• Maison MapendocoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerLocal remediation partner engaged by Child Labour Remediation Hub for child labour remediation activities in mining communities.
• International Labour Organization (ILO)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFCA is working with ILO as stakeholder to strengthen child labour remediation programming, specifically regarding engagement with CMOC, Dormakaba.

Scale indicators14 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Cobalt for Development (GIZ): Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) program funded by BMW, Samsung SDI, BASF, and Volkswagen that pilots responsible ASM cobalt sourcing in DRC. Targets the same mines and miners as FCA and is an explicit collaboration partner, making it a direct peer in ASM cobalt formalization.
• Responsible Minerals Initiative (RMI): Industry initiative hosted by the Responsible Business Alliance that develops standards and assessment programs for responsible mineral supply chains, including cobalt. Co-developed the ASM Cobalt Framework with FCA, making it the closest comparable multi-stakeholder platform in mineral due diligence.
• European Partnership for Responsible Minerals (EPRM): Multi-stakeholder partnership funded by the European Commission and industry to support responsible mineral supply chains. Collaborates with FCA on the Responsible Mining Credits system and is a direct peer in convening companies and donors for responsible mineral sourcing.
• Alliance for Responsible Mining (ARM): International NGO focused on ASM formalization and fair-trade gold and mineral certification. Now an FCA member (joined 2024), and a direct peer in setting standards for artisanal and small-scale mining communities.
• Better Mining (RAST): An initiative of the Responsible Artisanal and Small-Scale Mining Solutions (RAST) group that monitors ASM mine sites for incidents and risks. FCA has an active MoU with Better Mining to coordinate site-level work, making it a direct peer in ASM mine monitoring and improvement.
• Responsible Cobalt Initiative (RCI): Chinese Chamber of Commerce of Metals, Minerals & Chemicals Importers and Exporters-led initiative promoting responsible cobalt sourcing. Co-developed the ASM Cobalt Framework with FCA, making it a direct peer in cobalt supply chain standards and member recruitment.

Broad incumbents

• Pact: International development NGO that works on ASM, child labor remediation, and responsible mineral supply chains in DRC and elsewhere. Operates at greater scale than FCA and is a comparable peer in delivering community-level mining and child protection programs.
• Global Battery Alliance (GBA): World Economic Forum-hosted multi-stakeholder coalition that includes the Cobalt Action Partnership in which FCA is a partner. GBA is a broader platform-level peer working on battery value chain transparency, including the Battery Passport, with overlapping membership and goals.
• Initiative for Responsible Mining Assurance (IRMA): Multi-stakeholder standard-setting and assurance organization for industrial-scale mines. While focused on large-scale mining rather than ASM, IRMA is a comparable standards-driven organization that competes for member attention and ESG credibility in the responsible mining space.

Others

• The Impact Facility (TIF): Founding organization of FCA, providing operational management and secretariat services. While technically a parent/management entity, TIF also runs parallel ASM professionalization programs in other geographies and is a thematic peer in the ASM transformation space.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/fair-cobalt-alliance

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Fair Cobalt Alliance (FCA)