.0 INTRODUCTION . A ms and focus This handbook addresses community engagement and development, a theme in the Leading Practice Sustainable Development Program. The program aims to identify key issues affecting sustainable development in the mining industry and provide information and case studies that illustrate a more sustainable basis for the industry. There are a number of other themed handbooks in the series, which aim to complement this handbook. The importance of the social dimension of sustainable development is acknowledged in key industry policy statements such as the International Council on Mining and Metals’ Sustainable Development Principles and the Minerals Council of Australia’s Enduring Value framework. Among other things, signatories to these frameworks undertake to ‘contribute to the social, economic and institutional development of the communities in which we operate’ and to ‘engage with and respond to stakeholders through open consultation processes’. In the same way, a growing number of small, medium and large companies have adopted policy frameworks which emphasise that community considerations are integral to each stage of a mining operation, from design and construction through to operation and closure. This handbook provides guidance to mining industry practitioners on how these higher level policy commitments can be translated into improved practices at the mine site. It focuses on the challenges that companies may encounter as they engage with local communities and seek to contribute to their long-term development, using case studies to illustrate how these challenges have been addressed in particular contexts. Specific aims are to:
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outline the benefits to companies and operations of engaging with, and contributing to, the development of communities
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provide a framework to help operations and companies assess the maturity of their current approach to dealing with communities
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describe the basic steps involved in effectively planning and managing for community engagement and development
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set out key principles that should guide these activities highlight examples of evolving good practice.
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND DEVELOPMENT