[SLIDESHOW] Mining Industry: Social Responsibility Programs in Action

The term Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) in the mining industry refers to voluntary actions taken by companies to either improve the living conditions of local communities via economic, social, environmental or to reduce the negative impacts of mining projects.

The idea is to go beyond that of legal obligations, contracts and license agreements.

CSR programs typically include investments in building social capital (providing school buildings, workshops on gender issues, family planning, improving hygiene), infrastructure (electricity, roads, hospitals, drainage repairs), and human capital (training local people to be employed by mining companies, and promoting and providing skills).

Companies leading by example include Anglo American, Newmont Mining, Barrick Gold, Rio Tinto, De Beers and Goldcorp, all of which have comprehensive community and sustainability programs in place.

The International Council on Mining & Metals (ICMM), one of the leading mining organizations in the world, strongly urges member companies to implement social and environmental programs in operating areas, including health programs.

According to ICMM, the organization strives in addressing community health issues. “ICMM member community health initiatives will need to continue to learn from experience, to refine and evolve health programming to maximize and sustain health impacts.”

The following images display the positive results of mining initiatives in operating countries.