The Role of NGOs and Civil Society Beyond Holding Companies and Governments Accountable Rees Warne Policy Advisor for Extractive Industries Catholic Relief Services February 29, 2008

Civil Society as an Ally NGOs like CRS have to care about mining because mining affects the people we work with at many levels Involvement of NGOs/civil society can support common interests and improve outcomes for everyone Sustainable development requires governments, companies and civil society to work together

Publish What You Pay The Publish What You Pay campaign (a coalition of more than 300 NGOs worldwide) aims to help citizens of resource-rich countries hold their governments accountable for the management of revenues from the oil, gas and mining industries. When properly managed these revenues should serve as a basis for poverty reduction, economic growth and development rather than exacerbating corruption, conflict and social divisiveness. Australia Azerbaijan Cameroon Canada Chad Congo Brazzaville Côte d'Ivoire Democratic Republic of Congo France Gabon Georgia Germany Ghana Guinea Indonesia Kazakhstan The Kyrgyz Republic Liberia Mali Mauritania Mongolia The Netherlands Niger Nigeria Norway Peru Sierra Leone Timor-Leste United States United Kingdom

Catholic Relief Services (CRS) Founded in 1943 –By the Catholic Bishops of the United States –To serve World War II survivors in Europe CRS Now –Works in more than 100 countries nad has offices in 50 countries –Reaches more than 80 million people –Works through local partners –Is part of Caritas Internationalis –Serves people based solely on need, regardless of race, religion or ethnicity

CRS cares about mining because – Mining affects the people that we work with – Exploitation of national natural wealth has not had as many benefits as it could – Our constituents in many countries where we work have asked us to Why CRS Cares about Mining

The Resource Curse Resource-rich countries tend to have –High (and growing) levels of poverty –Extreme income inequalities –Greater risk of conflict (33% vs. 6%) –Low levels of citizen participation –High levels of corruption

Key Issues for Civil Society People tend to want –Health –Secure livelihood –Balance between costs and benefits –Positive relationships with others –Respect and a say in their own lives

Local Impacts of Mining Health Contamination of water, air and soil HIV/AIDS –Environmental contamination –Displacement/resettlement –Loss of livelihoods –Mine closing –Responsibility for long-term impacts

Balance of Costs and Benefits Amount and Use of Mining Revenues –Basic public services –Government accountability –Transparency –Corruption –Safety of those who advocate for improvements –How decisions are made on the local use of revenues –Conflict over access to mineral wealth

Local Relationship with Mining Companies –Human rights –Labor standards Wages Working conditions Worker Safety –Corporate Social Responsibility Funds

Self-Determination Important not to underestimate: –People’s participation in decisions that affect them –Social license for mining companies –Free prior informed consent

Social, Political, and Financial Risks Can be Reduced By effectively engaging Civil Society

Civil Society Participation Participation and communication must –Be Meaningful –Include the representatives of a variety of key stakeholders –Be an on-going process

Working with Civil Society –Minimizing interactions with stakeholders does not minimize problems with stakeholders –Information meetings are not the same as “participation” –Participation is an on-going process – not just for the EIA –Problem solving should take place before conflicts erupt –The effectiveness of CSR can not be measured by the amount of money spent –Addressing people’s basic needs can be more important than building flashy projects –Working with local communities takes time, but not working with communities can lead to costly delays –Manipulation creates a risky environment –Civil society can support government and corporate goals

Roles of Government, Companies and Civil Society Crucial Points of Collaboration

When civil society holds government and the private sector to account - it can lower risks and benefit everyone