Communities standard

At the end of 2004, the Rio Tinto Communities standard was issued to Group businesses to support the implementation of the Communities policy.

The standard sets out the requirements businesses need to consider in the design and implementation of an effective community relations programme. It brings together much of the expertise and good practice already developed within the Group with robust systems for monitoring and managing community relations.

It covers their requirements in the areas of five year communities plans, baseline communities assessments, consultation, cultural heritage, and community assistance. Additional requirements include monitoring and reporting, and community relations management. Rio Tinto has developed guidance notes on each of these topics to help businesses meet the requirements set out in the standard.

One of the key challenges in drafting the Rio Tinto Communities standard has been striking the right balance between setting prescribed, minimum requirements and the need for local invention and implementation. Rio Tinto firmly believes that the most effective community relations programmes are those designed and implemented by the people working in community relations in the Group's businesses, who are most closely involved with their affected communities. Therefore, the Communities standard provides a framework within which Group businesses develop and agree programmes and activities.