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Knowledge is a far better platform for decision-making and operational review than instinct, guesswork or institutional pride. Whether the organization needs to solve a problem or understand what happened, the Densus Group’s doctrine and assessment methodology enables the client to make decisions based on quantifiable and evidentiary facts and analysis.
Our Assessment and Audit methodologies are closely tied to our Risk Management, Situational Awareness and Capability Development methodologies, ensuring that assessments are conducted from every perspective, and solutions proposed that engage a wide breadth of experience and knowledge.
It is not sufficient to review a problem at face value. For example, the Densus methodology begins an audit at first causes, examining the political and operational context for the audit and the effect intended to be achieved. An audit of an effect must not only ask whether the effect was achieved in this instance or situation, but whether, if the worst case scenario had eventuated, assuming it did not, would the effect still have been achieved. The Densus Group is dedicated to professionalism; we believe in identifying all potential flaws and problems, and assisting our client in learning from them.
Our assessments, be they proactive or retroactive, support the client in being as effective as possible as efficiently as possible.
The violence that has plagued the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo for more than a decade has long been linked to the illicit exploitation of “conflict minerals” - tantalum, tin, tungsten and gold. In response, a series of governments and international organizations have passed laws and developed programs to address the link between violence and the mineral economy. These include Section 1502 of the US Congress’ Dodd–Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, ICGLR’s Regional Certification Scheme, ITRI Tin Supply Chain Initiative (iTSCi), the OECD Due Diligence Guidelines, and the EICC’s Conflict Free Smelter Program.
These initiatives have worked to deprive armed groups of funding by promoting supply chain due diligence efforts, implementing supply chain tracing initiatives, and mandating reporting requirements for companies that use conflict minerals in their products.
Unfortunately, rather than investing in clean sources for minerals in the Congo, many companies have opted to avoid minerals from the region altogether resulting in severe economic harm to the region. These developments coupled with uncertainty over pending regulations has driven the trade further underground and empowered many of the actors which the U.S. and others have tried to regulate.
To help reverse this trend, Densus has developed an independent audit and certification capability to assist companies in this challenging environment - “Congo-Sourced, Conflict Free TM”. Passing the certification guarantees companies that they meet the requirements of the many disparate audit requirements and assures socially conscious consumers that products they buy are encouraging responsible business practices in the region.
Densus applies its expeditionary consulting and due diligence services and its supply chain expertise to provide clients with a range of services supporting their investigations into conflict mineral regulation transparency and compliance matters. Our own depth of knowledge and relationships allow Densus to assist companies seeking to address these issues for regulatory and/or corporate social responsibility reasons in building internal processes and structures that meet the necessary standards.
Any action to support peace, rule of law and the development of the DRC must include active investment in the region by facilitating the purchase of minerals that are locally sourced. Meeting Densus’ “Congo-Sourced, Conflict Free TM” standard is one big, constructive step companies can take.
Minerals sourced from other countries in the region will receive their country's designation.
Further information will be published on the certification process and brand in the near future.
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