The Responsible Mica Initiative (RMI) recently welcomed Per Sjöberg, CEO of CARCO, to southern Madagascar for a field visit highlighting how collaboration across the mica supply chain can support tangible improvements for mining communities.
A key moment of the visit was the inauguration of a new school in Evango, in the Beraketa area, near a mica-mining site supported by RMI. Today, the school welcomes 155 students, improving access to education in a community where the nearest school was previously approximately eight kilometers away.
Collaboration across the mica supply chain
The school is the result of collaboration between several actors across the mica supply chain. The project was funded by Carco and Glory Mica, with operational coordination by Malagasy mica exporter RIMCO and support from the Responsible Mica Initiative.
By bringing together international buyers, a local exporter and RMI, the project illustrates how companies at different stages of the mica supply chain can work collectively to contribute to the development of mica-mining communities.
Improving access to education is particularly important in mining areas. By bringing education closer to children and their families, initiatives such as the Evango school also contribute to broader efforts to prevent child labor by addressing one of the challenges faced by children in mica-mining communities.
Understanding responsible mica mining on the ground
Beyond the school inauguration, Per Sjöberg visited several other mica-mining sites supported by RMI, as well as a mica sorting facility.
The field visits provided an opportunity to gain a broader understanding of RMI’s work in Madagascar, from supporting mining communities and promoting responsible mining practices to improving working conditions and strengthening responsible practices throughout the mica supply chain.
They also demonstrated the importance of connecting supply chain stakeholders with the realities of mica-producing communities on the ground.
Turning supply chain collaboration into local impact
The visit highlighted what collaboration across the mica supply chain can make possible. By combining the engagement of international buyers, local exporters and organizations working directly with mining communities, collective action can support practical improvements and contribute to longer-term benefits for communities.
With 155 students now attending the new school in Evango, the project offers a concrete example of how responsible supply chain collaboration can help expand access to education in Madagascar’s mica-mining regions.
