The Impact Facility

What The Impact Facility does

The Impact Facility is a UK-registered social enterprise and impact investment vehicle founded in 2018 that provides blended finance, technical assistance, and market access to artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) communities in East Africa and the Democratic Republic of Congo. The organisation operates two flagship programmes: the Lake Victoria Gold Programme (LV2030), which deploys lease-to-purchase equipment financing, technical expertise, and ESG improvement plans to gold mines in Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda; and the Fair Cobalt Alliance (FCA), a multi-stakeholder platform co-founded with Fairphone, Signify, and Huayou Cobalt to enable responsible artisanal cobalt mining in DRC's Copper-Cobalt belt. As of the latest disclosures, TIF holds 12 active gold investments with a pipeline of 20+ additional sites, and works with a large DRC cobalt mine employing over 5,000 workers.

The company's proprietary toolkit includes the Impact Escalator ESG framework, Investment Partnership Plans (IPPs) for mine-level continuous improvement over six-month cycles, a Lease-to-Purchase blended finance model combining grant and investment capital, and field-validated mercury-free processing technology (High Banker Sluice achieving 63.18% gold recovery and 96.55% smelting efficiency at Nsangano mine). The Responsible Gold Credits Programme, piloted in Q1 2025, is a credit-based mechanism where downstream buyers purchase verified ESG-compliant gold credits, with revenues channeled back to mining communities. TIF also publishes an ESG Performance & Risk Management Handbook and Impact Monitoring & Guidance tool to operationalise its methodology.

TIF's business model rests on three revenue streams: multi-year institutional donor grants (Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs / Netherlands Enterprise Agency for FCA, plus an LME grant of ~US$790,000 in 2021), blended-finance investment capital recovered through lease-to-purchase repayments, and transaction-based revenue from Responsible Gold Credits (pilot generated $12,776). Distribution is field-based through direct engagement by in-house mining engineers and programme managers in Nairobi, Migori, Geita, and Kolwezi, complemented by relationships with downstream electronics, automotive, battery, and jewellery buyers seeking responsibly sourced minerals. Leadership transitioned in May 2024 from founder Assheton Carter (now board strategy/advocacy) to Lewis Temple, formerly CEO of BRAC UK.

Name

The Impact Facility

Legal name

The Impact Facility

Website

https://theimpactfacility.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2018

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Impact Facility is a UK-registered social enterprise that provides blended finance, technical assistance, and market access to artisanal gold and cobalt miners in East Africa and DRC, connecting them to downstream electronics, automotive, and jewellery buyers seeking responsibly sourced minerals.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Artisanal and Small-Scale Mining Services

NAICS

Support Activities for Metal Mining (213114), Support Activities for Mining (2131), Environmental Consulting Services (541620)

SIC

Services-Management Consulting Services (8742), Services-Engineering Services (8711)

akta.pro primary industry

Impact Investing & Social Finance (Funds, CDFIs, Microfinance) (BPAGALAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Sustainable Private Markets (Impact PE/VC, Private Credit, Infrastructure) (FSAAALAG), Impact Investment & Development Investment Funds (BPADACAO), Financial Inclusion & Consumer Empowerment (Banking Access, Credit Building) (BPAGALAJ)

Keywords

• Artisanal mining finance
• Responsible gold sourcing
• Cobalt supply chains
• Blended finance mining
• ESG mining compliance

Headquarters

HQ city

West End

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Grant and Donor Funding: The organization receives multi-year grants from institutional donors including the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Netherlands Enterprise Agency. These funds support operational programs, technical assistance, and capacity building.
2. Blended Finance - Investment Capital: The organization combines grant and investment capital to provide equipment to artisanal miners through lease-to-purchase arrangements. Returns come from equipment lease payments and successful loan repayments from mining operations.
3. Responsible Gold Credits: Pioneering initiative similar to renewable energy credits where buyers purchase credits representing gold produced under ESG benchmarks. Revenue from credit premiums is channeled directly back into ASGM communities for improvements in wages, health and safety, environmental projects, and technology investment.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The Impact Facility is a UK-registered social enterprise that provides blended finance (grants plus investment capital), technical assistance, and market access to artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) communities in East Africa and the DRC. It deploys mining engineers on the ground, supplies equipment through lease-to-purchase arrangements, runs continuous ESG improvement programs (Impact Escalator framework, Investment Partnership Plans), and channels responsibly produced minerals to global supply chains via the Responsible Gold Credits Programme and the Fair Cobalt Alliance.

Product overview

The Impact Facility is a UK-registered social enterprise offering a portfolio of interconnected programs focused on enabling responsible artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM). The core offerings include the Lake Victoria Gold Programme (LV2030) for gold mining operations in East Africa, the Fair Cobalt Alliance (FCA) for cobalt sector transformation in the DRC, and the Responsible Gold Credits Programme. Supporting these programs are the Equipment Lease-to-Purchase Investment Model for providing mining equipment, the ESG Performance & Risk Management Handbook as a guiding framework, Investment Partnership Plans (IPPs) for continuous mine improvement, and Impact Monitoring & Guidance tools for measuring outcomes. Together, these products form an integrated approach from equipment provision and capacity building to market access and impact measurement.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Lake Victoria Gold Programme (LV2030): A programme focused on responsible artisanal gold mining in Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda, providing equipment lease-to-purchase financing and ESG support to small-scale gold miners.
• Fair Cobalt Alliance (FCA)
• Responsible Gold Credits (RGC)

Products and services

• Lake Victoria Gold Programme (LV2030) A multi-funder programme combining grant and investment finance to support responsible artisanal and small-scale gold mining operations across Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda, providing mining communities with access to technical assistance, formal markets, capital and equipment. TIF currently has 12 active investments in gold mines through its lease-to-purchase scheme, with a pipeline of 20+ mine sites screened for partnership in 2023 and a target of approximately 100 active partnerships with African mines by 2025 and total investment value in excess of $5m.
• Fair Cobalt Alliance (FCA) A multi-stakeholder action platform co-founded by TIF, Fairphone, Signify and Huayou Cobalt enabling responsible artisanal mining in the cobalt sector. It brings together actors across the cobalt supply chain to improve working conditions, reduce child labour and increase household incomes in DRC mining communities, working with a large mine employing over 5,000 workers and miners with targets to scale to 3 mines by early 2024 and 5 mines by end 2025 with $5m total investment value.
• Responsible Gold Credits Programme A pioneering initiative similar to renewable energy credits that provides verifiable proof that gold has been produced in adherence to ESG benchmarks, with funds generated from credit purchases channelled directly back into ASGM communities for improvements in wages, health and safety, environmental projects and technology investment. First off-takers include Fairphone, BRUNA the Label and Shiftphone.
• Equipment Lease-to-Purchase Investment Model A blended finance programme providing mining equipment to artisanal miners through lease-to-ownership arrangements, enabling access to modern technology and equipment while fostering sustainable mining practices. Miners make payments over time against Investment Partnership Plans reviewed over six-month cycles, enabling access to capital markets for frontier ASM producers typically excluded from formal finance.

Quantifiable outcome

• 63.18% gold recovery rate achieved with mercury-free High Banker Sluice technology
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

22 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and supporting.

• BRUNAcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Jewellery company championing women in mining, sponsoring internship and 'Going Mercury-Free in Gold Processing' initiative with TIF.
• CMOC (China Molybdenum Co., Ltd)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2021Second largest cobalt producer and largest tungsten producer globally, joined FCA with commitment to responsible sourcing and economic development of Copper-Cobalt belt.
• IXMmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2021Geneva-based trading arm of CMOC, first cobalt trading company to join FCA. Follows OECD recommendation to contribute to collective action for responsible ASM cobalt.
• GlencoremajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 August 2020Joined Fair Cobalt Alliance at public launch. One of the world's largest global diversified natural resource companies, contributing to collective action for responsible cobalt supply chains.
• Responsible Cobalt Initiative (RCI)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 August 2020Programme established by Chinese cobalt refining and mining companies active in DRC to tackle risks facing workers at artisanal mines. Cooperating with FCA on industry-wide standards.
• Sono MotorssupportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 August 2020German mobility provider joined FCA at launch, committed to responsible sourcing of cobalt for electric vehicle batteries.
• Miller Center for Social EntrepreneurshipsupportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 August 2020Knowledge and development organisation supporting FCA with research on alternative livelihood opportunities, including white-paper on sustainable livelihoods in DRC.
• Centre Arrupe pour la Recherche et la Formation (CARF)supportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 August 2020Congolese civil society organisation actively supporting and participating in FCA, providing local research and insights from mining communities.
• LifesaversupportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 August 2020Joined FCA at launch, delivering portable power solutions that may support mining community infrastructure.
• FairphonecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounding partner of Fair Cobalt Alliance and ongoing collaborator on responsible sourcing initiatives. Fairphone is a Dutch electronics company committed to ethical sourcing, providing strategic direction and market access for responsible minerals.
• SignifycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounding partner of Fair Cobalt Alliance. Global lighting company committed to responsible supply chains and sustainability, contributing to FCA's vision of responsible cobalt production.
• Huayou CobaltcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounding partner of Fair Cobalt Alliance and key investor in ASM formalisation at Kasulu and Kamilombe mines, having invested millions in mine improvements and professionalisation.
• Solidaridad East and Central AfricacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerImplementing partner on Project Access in Kenya and Uganda, collaborating on formalisation and financial inclusion initiatives for ASGM.
• PlanetGOLDsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerUN-financed GEF project to eradicate mercury and professionalize ASGM. TIF documented financial access interventions for ASGM sector on behalf of planetGOLD.
• Alliance for Responsible Mining (ARM)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated with TIF on documenting financial access interventions for ASGM sector globally.
• TeslamajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEV manufacturer FCA member committed to responsible sourcing and supply chain transparency.
• Volvo CarsmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAutomotive manufacturer FCA member supporting responsible cobalt sourcing initiatives.
• Amperex Technology Limited (CATL)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBattery manufacturer FCA member contributing to responsible sourcing standards.
• ShiftsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerElectronics manufacturer FCA member committed to responsible supply chains.
• UNICEFsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational development organisation collaborating with FCA on child labour eradication and children's rights in mining communities.
• Save the ChildrensupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational NGO collaborating with FCA on protecting children's rights and supporting education in mining communities.
• CDM (Congo Dongfang International Mining SARL)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSubsidiary of Huayou Cobalt, has invested millions in formalisation of Kasulu and Kamilombe mine sites, establishing controls against child labour.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• IMPACT (formerly Partnership Africa Canada): NGO focused on transforming how natural resources are governed, with deep expertise in conflict minerals, ASM cobalt and gold. Shares TIF's mandate of professionalising artisanal mining for responsible supply chains.
• Alliance for Responsible Mining (ARM): Global alliance established to enhance the social, environmental and labour conditions of ASM communities through standards like Fairmined. ARM and TIF jointly documented financial-access interventions for ASGM and share a near-identical mission around formalising artisanal mining.
• Levin Sources: Consultancy and social venture focused on responsible mineral supply chains, ASM formalisation and due-diligence tooling. Closely comparable methodology-provider peer operating in adjacent commodities and geographies.
• Solidaridad: International civil society organisation operating across multiple commodities with programmes in ASM formalisation and financial inclusion. Solidaridad is TIF's actual implementing partner on Project Access in Kenya and Uganda, evidencing near-identical operating model.

Emerging players

• RCS Global: Specialised supply-chain due diligence and responsible-sourcing advisory serving mineral and metal industries. Comparable as a service provider to downstream buyers seeking ASM provenance assurance, an adjacent capability to TIF's Impact Escalator.
• Better Sourcing Programme (BSP): Specialised initiative supporting responsible cobalt sourcing from artisanal and small-scale mines in DRC, with member companies overlapping FCA's downstream constituency. Direct methodological peer on ASM verification.
• Solutions for Hope: Pilot project launched by Fairphone, Huayou Cobalt and others to demonstrate responsibly sourced cobalt from DRC. Operates in same closed-pipe responsible-cobalt niche as the Fair Cobalt Alliance that TIF co-manages.

Broad incumbents

• Responsible Minerals Initiative (RMI): Industry-wide initiative providing minerals due-diligence standards and audit programmes used by many of TIF's downstream partners (e.g., Tesla, CATL via FCA). Overlapping standard-setting role in responsible cobalt and gold supply chains.
• International Finance Corporation (IFC): World Bank Group private-sector development finance arm investing in mining supply chains and ASM formalisation in emerging markets. Comparable as a much larger institutional provider of blended finance for responsible mining.
• Pact: Large international development NGO with dedicated mining and minerals programmes across Africa and Asia, including ASM community development. Founder Assheton Carter was previously SVP at Pact, evidencing direct methodological lineage.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-impact-facility

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 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 The Impact Facility