Why gender matters - Centre for Social Responsibility in Mining ...

How to
Four phases for integrating gender
into Communities work with inclusive
engagement at the centre
Building on the notion of inclusive
engagement, Rio Tinto’s approach
to Communities work is captured
in the simplified conceptual
framework which follows. The
approach can be divided into four
inter-related phases, with inclusive
engagement sitting at the centre,
as a cross cutting theme that
relates to all the other phases:
Inclusive engagement
Ensure that women and men
from different social groups are
consulted and can participate in
engagement and development in
meaningful ways.
1 Know and understand
Develop gender insights through
specific consultation with women’s
and men’s groups and discuss
the findings with community
members.
Integrate gender issues into all
baseline assessments: baseline
communities assessments (BCAs),
social impact assessments (SIAs)
and social risk assessments (SRAs).
Consider gender impacts for
different stages of mine life
(including closure).
Identify barriers and constraints to
participation along gender lines.
2 Plan and implement
Consider and integrate gender
issues in the Communities strategy
and multi-year plans.
Use gender sensitive
methodologies to plan and
implement community
engagement and programme
initiatives.
Develop other operational plans
and standard operating procedures
with potential gender impacts in
mind.
3 Monitor, evaluate
and improve
Use a monitoring framework
that includes gender sensitive
indicators, underpinned by
credible data, which is updated
regularly.
Plan programmes and projects to
promote gender equality, and to
measure progress against gender
sensitive indicators.
Develop participatory monitoring
and evaluation processes where
possible, that are inclusive of both
women and men.
4 Report and communicate
Publicly report on what action
each site is taking to address
gender issues and the outcomes
of these actions.
Present gender-disaggregated
data for key performance areas
in site reports.
Communicate this information
to the community.
Wherever practical, gender
considerations should be
integrated into existing processes
for social baselines, impact
and risk assessment. However
if gender issues were not
adequately considered in early
studies, a standalone process for
improved gender knowledge and
understanding would be warranted.
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Align gender considerations in the
Communities multi-year plans
with other operational plans
within the business unit.