Jara Bakx is an Advisor, Responsible Raw Materials, with extensive expertise in fostering responsible mining practices and strengthening governance in the mineral sector. Since joining Levin Sources in January 2022, Jara has partnered with governments, businesses, and multilateral organisations to develop innovative strategies that address complex environmental, social, and governance (ESG) challenges in mineral value chains.
Her work often focuses on improving mineral sector governance, professionalising and integrating artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) into formal supply chains, advancing gender equality, and supporting human rights and environmental due diligence. She also works to address the unique challenges posed by the rising demand for critical and strategic (energy transition) minerals, striving to ensure that this does not worsen existing issues in mineral production or amplify harms to marginalised groups.
Jara has worked with a diverse range of clients, including the World Bank, the United Nations, the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit, planetGOLD, and the Global Investor Commission on Mining 2030, with much of her work focusing on upstream mineral value chains in Sub-Saharan Africa. She works closely with these agencies to build a deeper understanding of how mineral production and trade interact with conflict, fragility and peace, and regularly develops strategic policy recommendations to address these challenges in the long term. She has extensive experience identifying and addressing the barriers that prevent artisanal and small-scale miners from accessing formal supply chains, designing evidence-based and context-sensitive strategies that support social and environmental sustainability. Jara also advises on the design and implementation of initiatives to advance women’s empowerment in mineral value chains. In addition, she has worked with large-scale mining companies across several African countries to develop human rights-based and gender-responsive approaches to managing ASM on and around industrial mining concessions.
Jara also supports downstream companies, including those in the energy, automotive, and jewellery sectors, by conducting detailed mineral supply chain risk and opportunity assessments. Her insights have helped clients identify ESG risks, design mitigation strategies, align with international responsible sourcing standards, and strengthen their commitments to ethical practices.
Before joining Levin Sources, Jara served as Policy Officer Raw Materials and Oceans at the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs, where she advanced initiatives on gender equality, responsible business conduct, and mineral-sector governance. Jara holds a BA in History from Utrecht University, an MSc in International Development Studies (cum laude) from Wageningen University & Research, and an Advanced Master in International Development (cum laude) from Radboud University. Her academic work focused on the intersection of environmental governance, social justice, and postcolonialism.
Fluent in English and Dutch, Jara is based in Porto, Portugal.
