Communities
Gaining and maintaining a “social licence to operate” is critical to successful mine development and management.
Robert Mathye conducts a stakeholder dialogue at AK06 in Botswana
Consequently we work to ensure that local communities understand the risks and opportunities that a diamond mine might bring, as well as our willingness to work with them to ensure they benefit from a mine even after its closure.
De Beers’ continuing success owes much to the enduring relationships we have built with our neighbours in the communities in which we live and work.
Gareth Penny, Managing Director De Beers Group
We believe that a well managed diamond mine can and should serve as a driver of sustainable local development. We are aware, however, that the translation of a finite resource into benefits that extend beyond the life of a mine is far less straightforward.
We believe that a solution to this challenge lies in harmonising our efforts wherever possible with those of other stakeholders in local development. This includes government agencies, civil society and community organisations.
From an operational perspective this is possible because of the clear alignment between our business objectives and the provision of local employment, local procurement, enterprise and infrastructural development and our continued support of strategic social investment projects.
The community discipline is an evolving area of expertise in De Beers. Our aim is to elevate this discipline to a level of sufficient maturity within the Family of Companies to ensure our continuing licence to operate at existing mines, and be recognised by local communities and governments alike as a preferred partner of choice where we develop new mines.
Did you know?
Our social investment spend of US$19 million was disbursed to more than 750 different projects. This equates to 2% of pre-tax profits.
Issues and important questions that are addressed in the Report to Society 2007:
- Engaging with communities
- Developing community engagement plans using SEAT
- Impact assessment
- Participation in local economic development through Social and Labour Plans (SLPs)
- Land rights
- Indigenous people and cultural heritage
- Resettlement practices
- Artisanal and small-scale mining
- Engagement in peace-building
- Voluntary Principles on Security and Human Rights
- Closure planning
- Investing in communities