Communities
Good community relations are as necessary for our business success as the effective management of our operations. This belief is at the heart of our overall approach to communities and is why we build good quality relationships with the people in the areas where we operate.
Wherever we operate, we seek to understand the social, environmental and economic implications of our activities so we can optimise benefits and reduce negative impacts, both for the local community and for the overall economy. We discuss mutual benefits and obligations with local governments and community representatives, and agree on the objectives that will secure long term results.
Our Communities work is guided by The way we work, Rio Tinto's global code of business conduct. Our Communities policy and standard provide the framework for the work, while guidance notes provide specific requirements in areas such as baseline communities assessment, consultation, social impact assessment, communities plans and compensation. We also refer to external policies such as the International Finance Corporation's standard and guidance on land acquisition and involuntary resettlement.
Community engagement and planning leads us to develop programmes that respond to both business and community priorities. These help us to optimise the effects of our activities on our communities' livelihoods and the overall economy.
Community assistance programmes include enterprise development, training, employment, community based health and social and cultural heritage initiatives. We see these contributions as the added benefits that communities may receive from hosting our businesses in their regions. The programmes are designed to make a contribution to the local economic and community development. They must promote self sufficiency and avoid dependency. Eventually, responsibility for specific initiatives should devolve to community members or communities themselves.
Ideally, all of our programmes are based on socio-economic baseline studies; respond to community priorities; build long term local skills and knowledge; encourage economic independence; and teach us how to improve our performance. There are processes in place to monitor and measure the effectiveness of such programmes.
At Rio Tinto SIMFER SA, at Simandou in Guinea, a number of programmes aimed at improving the status of women have been implemented in consultation with women, civil society groups and local authorities. These include a literacy programme linked to income generation activities, support for girls to complete secondary education and exams, and support to women to build traditional sanitation systems in local villages.
