Lubumbashi, 13 June 2025 — The United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) made a notable appearance at the 20th edition of the DRC Mining Week, held from 11 to 13 June in Lubumbashi, the copper capital of Haut-Katanga. Through its participation under the “ONE UN” banner and alongside its project partners, the UN agency showcased the Support Project for Training and Qualified Employment (PAFEQ), implemented in the provinces of Haut-Katanga and Lualaba.

Held under the theme “20 Years of Transformation in Mining in the DRC: Investing in Infrastructure Development and Energy Security, Vision 2025–2030”, this milestone edition brought together a diverse range of stakeholders: mining companies, public authorities, private sector operators, civil society organizations, and technical and financial partners.

Promoting Local Skills for Mining Equipment Maintenance

UNIDO leveraged this major event to highlight the PAFEQ, a flagship project focused on strengthening technical skills through targeted, qualification-based training programs.

“Through PAFEQ, we are training a qualified Congolese workforce in heavy equipment maintenance, which is essential for the functioning of the mining sector. This addresses a growing and largely unmet demand,” emphasized Raef Melayeh, the project coordinator at UNIDO.

During a technical workshop organized by Enabel on skills and opportunities in the mining sector, UNIDO detailed its training strategy, targeting three key groups:

Current professionals, through continuing education;

Young job seekers, via qualification-based training;

Students enrolled in technical secondary education programs, particularly those at ITIMA in Kolwezi, through diploma-awarding training.

Three training programs have been developed, encompassing 20 modules and 31 core competencies tailored to meet the specific labor market needs in the mining equipment maintenance sector.

Strategic Partnerships for Sustainable Impact

At the panel and networking cocktail hosted by the Embassy of Sweden—focused on the role of businesses in promoting human rights and ethical mining—UNIDO, through the PAFEQ project, underscored the value of strong international partnerships. It acknowledged the technical support of VOLVO/SMT and EPIROC, two major industrial partners who contributed to trainer development and the equipping of centers of excellence (INPP and ITIMA); with INPP having financed its infrastructure from internal resources.

“The project is funded by the Swedish government in partnership with the Volvo and Epiroc groups. It aims to build a professional training ecosystem that meets the demands of the mining sector and to develop a pool of

qualified technicians capable of addressing the rising need for heavy equipment maintenance,” concluded Raef Melayeh. UNIDO also stressed the importance of dialogue with companies to ensure internship placements for youth—a crucial step toward successful professional integration.

Stakeholder Engagement and Buy-in

At its joint stand with training partner INPP, UNIDO engaged visitors—especially youth and mining sector stakeholders—on the relevance of the project and the importance of promoting local skills. This approach aligns with a vision for a responsible supply chain that relies on local labor as a driver of competitiveness and sustainability.

The official visit by the Prime Minister, Her Excellency Judith Suminwa, to the joint UN stand at the close of the event, was a highlight. The head of the Congolese government praised the objectives of PAFEQ and reaffirmed the strategic importance of vocational training for the sustainable development of the mining sector in the DRC.