As programme director of the Fair Cobalt Alliance (FCA), Jose has the overall responsibility for the project management of the multi-year and multi-donor programme. The programme aims to positively transform artisanal cobalt mining in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) as to allow the sector to contribute to sustainable socio-economic development in the Kolwezi region of the DR Congo. Collaborating with the Congolese stakeholders, implementing partners and donor organisations, Jose leads the implementation of the FCA on-site mine improvement programme to improve health and safety conditions; the related monitoring and assurance framework, and various off-site projects aiming to reduce child labour and work towards livelihoods diversification.

Jose worked on due diligence in mineral supply chains and responsible mining over the past 8 years, both in industrial and artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM). She has extensive on the ground experience in high risk and developing areas, amongst which in Central Africa and South America. She started her career in academia conducting PhD research studying the impact of ‘conflict-mineral’ policy and due diligence initiatives on local natural resource governance structures in Katanga, DRC.

Working on the responsible production of minerals for a major industrial copper/cobalt mining company in Southern DRC, Jose gained key insights in due diligence from a corporate perspective working towards international best practices regarding human rights and the interaction between ASM and industrial mining. She built an extensive network in the DRC and has expert knowledge of internationally recognized due diligence standards including OECD Due Diligence Guidance; ICGLR; RMI; Section 1502 Dodd Frank Act, EU Regulation 2017/821, IFC performance standards; UNGP on Human Rights; and the VPSHR.

Jose holds a Bachelor’s degree in International Relations from the Groningen University; a Master’s degree in Human Geography from the Radboud University and a PhD degree in Political Science/ Development studies from the Erasmus University (International Institute for Social Studies (ISS)) in the Netherlands.