Policy and Regulation
Community development, even in isolated places, does not happen in a vacuum. Numerous government policies, such as taxes, shape local development opportunities and constraints, affecting both people and business. Rules about transparency and accountability at the national, regional and local levels also help to determine the impact of extractive projects on local people. Land policies (ie, contracting with EI firms, land rights for artisanal miners, whether or not women are allowed to hold land titles) mediate several aspects of the relationship between companies and community groups. Companies find it problematic to negotiate with artisanal miners if they are not recognized by the government. Meanwhile environmental policies and safeguards influence the level of attention companies pay to preventing pollution and planning for restoration before the lifecycle of the project concludes. Frequently civil society does not have the power to hold companies to account so they lobby the government to enact tougher laws to ensure that local people are benefiting from the extractive process. However, it is evident all over the world, that tough policies are essential but insufficient for good business and development practices. Active and local regulation/oversight, along with critical awareness and capacity building across society, are needed to turn policies into prosperity.
FEATURED RESOURCES
August, 2010
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As national governments and international institutions focus on cutting poverty in half to meet the Millennium Development Goals, a new UNRISD report warns that current approaches that target the poor or separate poverty from broader processes of economic growth and development are misconceived. In addition, they will leave approximately one billion people destitute in 2015.
February 2002
This paper examines the relevance of the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises to the mining sector and how they might help foster investment that promotes sustainable development.
2006
The Tool aims to help companies that invest in countries where governments are unwilling or unable to assume their responsibilities. It addresses risks and ethical dilemmas that companies are likely to face in such weak governance zones, including obeying the law and observing international instruments, heightened care in managing investments, knowing business partners and clients and dealing with public sector officials, and speaking out about wrongdoing.
2006
This site is designed to raise awareness of the Voluntary Principles, which have been developed to guide companies in balancing the needs for safety while respecting human rights and fundamental freedoms. On the site you will find the full text of the Voluntary Principles. You can also learn about the participants from government agencies, private companies, and non-governmental organizations.
2000
The OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises are recommendations addressed by governments to multinational enterprises. They provide voluntary principles and standards for responsible business conduct consistent with applicable laws. The Guidelines aim to ensure that the operations of these enterprises are in harmony with government policies, to strengthen the basis of mutual confidence between enterprises and the societies in which they operate, to help improve the foreign investment climate and to enhance the contribution to sustainable development made by multinational enterprises.
This paper investigates national mineral policy, legislation and regulation from a government perspective. It initially provides an overview of some of the major global mineral sector policy trends.