Rio Tinto aims to make a contribution to the well being of our neighbours.

As described in the Community relations section, the first steps are to conduct baseline studies and community needs assessments. Based on the information and data collected, consultations are then undertaken to ascertain community priorities.

This helps develop mutual understanding of what the operation and community can do together for mutual benefit. Most often, our operations are requested to assist with improving the socio economic wellbeing of our neighbours.

In many remote locations and developing countries assistance with basic infrastructure is greatly valued by communities. Business enterprise and small scale community based businesses can also provide opportunities for community people to learn new technical skills along with administrative, retail or commercial management skills.

In 2003 Rio Tinto businesses supported over 2,000 socio economic programmes. These cover a range of activities including health, education, business development, housing, environment and agriculture.

Community members who receive such training and enterprise assistance will continue to benefit from these skills long after our mining operations have closed. Similarly, employment opportunities provide immediate financial benefits. Rio Tinto's efforts in increasing indigenous employment at the Group's Australian operations has recently been recognised by the Australian Federal Government.

The spread of HIV/AIDS is a cause of great concern across the world, and affects our employees and neighbours most in southern Africa. All of our southern African operations have programmes in place to address this issue.

Examples...

Lihir health programmes

Richard Bay Minerals education improvement

Morro do Ouro income generation project