Our neighbours are essential to our success – just as we are often crucial to their growing prosperity.
We work at local, national and international levels to support the sustainable development of host countries and communities. At the local level, we pioneer new approaches to developing local businesses, training, social investment and capacity building. Nationally and internationally, we are at the forefront of measures to increase revenue transparency in the mining sector and to improve the investment climate in host countries.
For example, supply chain opportunities and investment development schemes help to maximise the local benefits of our operations. But our efforts go further as well. By identifying and working with key stakeholders, we are creating new, more accountable ways to improve the lives of local people now and for years to come.
Anglo American has developed a unique process, the Socio Economic Assessment Toolbox (SEAT), to ensure that our major operations have a comprehensive system of engagement with their stakeholders. This includes carrying out a full assessment of impacts (direct and indirect; positive and negative). The operation makes commitments designed to address any concerns expressed during the process and to improve its developmental impacts. Publication of a report to local people sets out the programme for improvement. In between SEAT implementations, each Anglo operation is required to put in place a three-year community engagement plan. Reviewed on an annual basis, these plans foster mutual understanding of what can – and can't – be accomplished. They also serve as the basis for the sort of continuing engagement that best serves everyone's interests.
Case study: Help for the wood workers of Woorabinda
The town of Woorabinda is the nearest aboriginal community to Anglo Coal Australia's Dawson Mine. It is also, traditionally, a local centre for woodworking.
Until early 2006, however, the woodworkers of Woorabinda pursued their craft in an ad hoc way. That changed when Anglo Coal Australia signed an innovative 'shared responsibility agreement' with community leaders and officials of the Federal and State Governments to create a small furniture production business.
As part of that agreement, the Dawson Mine is providing support to the fledgling enterprise in several ways: project managing an extension to the start-up's woodworking shed; advising on occupational health and safety issues; and developing a business plan. While all of that was going on, the woodworkers themselves embarked on certified training courses in carpentry and furniture making.
By the end of the company's first year, it had produced a successful range of highly marketable shelves, tables and seating – and received official recognition as well. Anglo's Woorabinda project was cited in an award for Outstanding Community Benefit at the Jobs Career Future Awards at the Parliament House in Australia's capital, Canberra, and one of the project's leading lights, Anglo Coal Australia's sustainability manager, was selected for a prestigious Vincent Fairfax Fellowship from the St. James Ethics Centre.
Case study: Home is best
It's one thing to improve the standards of your employees' housing. It's quite another to help put home ownership within their reach. In South Africa, where so many migrant workers live in hostels or informal settlements, Anglo Platinum is doing both.
Having recently completed 27 housing units, the company has now embarked on a much more ambitious programme: a further 3,000 units for occupation by staff in the Northam, Rustenburg, Fetagomo, Mokopane and Polokwane regions. All will offer affordable, secure, healthy family accommodation – built according to sustainable principles and with access to a range of schools, shops, markets and recreational facilities. Thanks to an innovative finance plan, employees will also be able to invest in their homes as they live in them, ultimately providing them with full ownership.
Recognising Anglo Platinum's efforts to improve the lives of thousands of South Africans, the company recently won top honours in its category from the Govan Mbeki Housing Awards, presided over by Housing Minister Lindiwe Sisulu.
Case study: Nurturing student talent in Chile
Three hundred talented Chilean school children now have the opportunity to grow their abilities thanks to an innovative extra- curricular course funded by Anglo American's Mantos Blancos copper mine.
Working in partnership with Fundación Andes and the Catholic University in Antofogasta, the mine has singled out students who have demonstrated outstanding performance in physical, natural or social sciences, the humanities, engineering or technology. The benefits extend to their parents and teachers as well, who are also invited to participate in the programme.
Adding an extra dimension to the instruction provided, the course puts special emphasis on pupil's social development, including the need for ethical and responsible behaviour.
