Community engagement
The communities where we operate are crucial to Anglo American’s success. At the same time, we are often vital to their growing prosperity. Mutual dependence makes it only natural that we want to make positive and enduring contributions to our hosts. Being a good neighbour is good business.
Students at Huachunta school near Anglo American's Quellaveco copper project in Peru
But what does being a good neighbour mean when you’re an organisation the size of Anglo American?
For us, it involves using our skills and resources at local, national and international levels to support the sustainable development of host communities.
At the local level, that can involve initiatives like helping nearby businesses to develop through training, social investment and capacity building. Sometimes, these neighbours become our suppliers as well.
Global leaders
Nationally and internationally, we’re among the leaders in our industry to improve host countries’ investment climates. For example, supply chain opportunities and development schemes help to maximise the local benefits of our operations. But our efforts also go beyond that. By identifying and working with key stakeholders, we’re creating new, more accountable ways to improve the lives of local people – now and for years to come.
To do all of this more effectively, Anglo American has developed a unique process, the Socio Economic Assessment Toolbox (SEAT). SEAT helps us engage with all of our stakeholders as widely and deeply as possible. This means fully assessing the impacts – direct and indirect – of our activities wherever we operate, and working with stakeholders to develop mutually agreed plans to support local communities. By making the findings of these site-level assessments public, we are establishing new levels of accountability to host communities and creating a powerful driver for continuous improvement.
Mutual understanding
An annual review of each of these programmes keeps up with changes in business and community circumstances. It also helps to build a mutual understanding of what can – and can’t – be accomplished. Since these reviews also form the basis of continuing engagement, they serve the interests of everyone involved.
It is through the goodwill of the communities around the Group’s operations that the Company is able to gain and maintain its social licence to operate. Building trust and forming mutually beneficial social agreements are not always a simple task, but Anglo American remains committed to this outcome.
To learn more about the relationships Anglo American are building within local communities, click on the case studies below:
