Tracking Development - Rio Tinto - Qit Madagascar Minerals

The construction Phase
Anticipating how a large project would attract people from
other regions, QMM communicated extensively across
Madagascar that priority would be given to local applicants.
All semi-skilled and unskilled positions were filled locally.
For positions initially recruited from outside the region,
QMM sent a strong signal discouraging individuals to come
to Fort Dauphin in hopes of finding employment. To track
this movement, QMM supported the urban commune of
Fort Dauphin in establishing a management system on
migration flows.
Promoting Healthy Behaviour
With less than one per cent of the population estimated
to be HIV positive, Madagascar continues to be one of
the few low prevalence countries in sub-Saharan Africa.
As a large company with thousands of employees, QMM
acknowledges its important role in working to maintain, if
not reduce, the country’s low HIV prevalence. Substantial
investments have been made in programmes aimed at
preventing HIV transmission and other sexually transmitted
infections (STIs).
A baseline study on knowledge, practices, perceptions and
beliefs about STIs and HIV/AIDS was undertaken before
construction commenced. The study functioned as a
double framework for implementing the National Strategic
Plan to Fight against AIDS for 2001 to 2005 and the actual
contribution of QMM in the promotion and protection of
its employees. As one of the most effective tools against
HIV is knowledge of one’s own HIV status, awareness and
voluntary counselling and testing campaigns (VCT) were
organised on a number of occasions, ensuring all personnel
an opportunity to take an HIV test.
Great measures were taken to sensitise local populations.
QMM partnered with local organisations, as well as
Population Services International (PSI), the International HIV/
AIDS Alliance, the Malagasy Ministry of Health, USAID and
SantéNet to launch an extensive campaign informing people
about risky behaviours and promoting condom use. Special
interventions targeted specific groups, such as sex workers.
Well before construction commenced, a formal Association of
Sex Workers was created. With financing provided by QMM,
the Association conducted its own study of local prostitution.
It identified local women engaged in prostitution and worked
with the women, providing awareness and prevention
resources. The innovative initiative was very successful,
with all new entrants into prostitution quickly identified and
consulted by their peers.
A mobile cinema, the Cinemobile, was purchased through a
project implemented successfully by PSI and funded by QMM.
Screening awareness materials pertaining to HIV/AIDS and
educating audiences through films and music videos, the
Cinemobile reached 6,000 individuals per month. In addition
to movies, social theatre productions and cultural and social
events were used to convey messages about HIV/AIDS.
A health impact assessment (HIA) was carried out on
behalf of QMM by International SOS focusing on the heath
of all people living in communities which could be directly
or indirectly affected by the project’s development. The
focus of the HIA was on the final phase of construction
activities and the early commissioning and operational
phases. From the beginning of 2006 to the end of 2008,
the assessment documented numerous health impacts facing
the communities and proposed a variety of interventions to
mitigate the potential impacts.
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