Tracking Development - Rio Tinto - Qit Madagascar Minerals

The Production Phase
introduction
The QIT Madagascar Minerals (QMM) project is an
undertaking that has spanned several decades, with the first
activity beginning in the mid-1980s. Located in a fragile and
declining physical, biological and social environment in the
remote Anosy region of southeastern Madagascar, the project
represents a large-scale and long-term investment in fixed
capital. As the first extensive mining project in Madagascar,
QMM is committed to setting a high standard of social and
environmental stewardship and to maintaining this standard
throughout the project. QMM has made measureable,
transparent commitments to the population directly affected
by the project, with initiatives aimed squarely at achieving
sustainable development. QMM is further contributing to
the region’s overall development. From the earliest onset of
the project, QMM recognised sustainable socioeconomic and
environmental benefits could flow from its investment only
if it were firstly, part of a long-term regional development
strategy and secondly, part of development efforts involving
government, international donor agencies and civil society.
Thus, QMM has sought to ensure and has given significant
support to regional planning, local ownership of development
efforts and increasing investment from donors.
Understanding the significance of collective efforts to work
towards shared development goals, QMM strives to create
durable partnerships and sustainable relationships built
on trust and mutual respect. Through risk assessments
for local populations affected by construction and mining,
social and environmental impact studies and mitigation and
development measures to improve people’s livelihoods,
QMM is invested in the long-term. Acting responsibly results
in long-term business benefits, thus QMM strives to maintain
a responsible and supportive work environment.
As a Rio Tinto company, QMM has made a strategic
commitment to sustainable development. QMM policy
prescribes that its activities contribute constructively to the
company’s global transition to sustainable development. In
this social narrative, QMM’s commitment is explored through
the many initiatives specifically targeted toward this goal.
A Partnership
QMM and Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale
Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), a federally owned enterprise
supporting the German government in achieving its objectives
in the field of international cooperation for sustainable
development, are working together to promote local good
governance and economic diversification in the communities
bordering mining activities in the Anosy region of Madagascar.
GIZ, with its well-established country and international
experience, and QMM have signed a partnership agreement.
This publication has been made possible through GIZ and
QMM’s partnership.
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