As stated in our Community Policy, we recognize that our operations have significant economic, social and environmental impacts on communities throughout the life cycle of our mining operations. Some of these impacts include land use and population influx, while others include economic opportunities and development in the areas of infrastructure, health, education and business creation.

All of our operations implement Environmental and Social Impact Assessments before development or expansion projects. These assessments identify our impacts from the outset and provide a framework for developing mitigation plans. Many of our sites also use baseline assessment tools to help identify community needs and provide a baseline against which we can measure our performance over time.

To support sustainable community development, we have established criteria for social program investments that prioritize sustainability and capacity building. These criteria help guide our operations toward a long-term goal of decreasing community dependencies and ensuring we are entering into partnerships that support sustainability. All operating mine sites also maintain Five-Year Community Development and Engagement Action Plans. These plans provide a system for ensuring that operations have well-developed community plans, including mechanisms for evaluating our impacts and performance on an annual basis. These action plans also support our risk-based approach to sustainable development, and work plans are updated annually to incorporate new challenges as well as programs and activities to address social risks.

In 2010 we launched a corporate community grievance management system for recording, processing and responding to community grievances. A web-based database was developed for operations to record and track grievances and their resolution. A corporate-wide guidance document was also rolled out to our operations to help ensure community grievance systems are consistent, well managed and incorporate best practices. We continue to monitor use of the system and review ways to improve effectiveness of grievance resolution at the site-level. Many operations also have developed site-specific grievance resolution procedures to help support the process in their unique operating and community environments.

At our sites in Indonesia and the DRC, we employ Community Liaison Officers. These staff members are responsible for two-way communications between the Company and the community. They are the primary channel to circulate information regarding developments that may interest or affect communities. They also report back to the Company regarding community questions, concerns and grievances. This engagement process enables management to monitor and assess any potential risks in its operations, and consider necessary mitigation. These communications are an ongoing effort, which we conduct through engagement with our stakeholders via meetings, workshops, socialization programs, media, and direct engagement in the field.

BACK TO TOP