[PDF] Community Development Toolkit - CommDev

CASE STUDYSetting up an independent forum or processCerrejon coal mine in ColombiaAnglo American, BHP Billiton and Xstrata, equal owners of the Cerrejon coal mine inColombia, commissioned in August 2007 an independent “social review” of Cerrejon’spast and current social engagement to provide a credible assessment of the mine’ssocial impact and outstanding concerns. Though not explicitly a complaints or grievanceresolution process, the panel’s recommendations provided insights into the resolutionof a number of legacy issues, notably regarding concerns and grievances over theresettlement of the Tabaco community in 2000–2001.The review was conducted independently of Cerrejon management by a panel of fourinternationally recognized experts in the area of social development, supported by a localconsultancy to undertake fieldwork. The panel consulted extensively at the mine site andwithin local communities, as well as with international stakeholders. The panel’s reportwas published in March 2008 and highlighted a number of areas in which Cerrejon couldenhance its social practices. Cerrejon’s management subsequently produced acomprehensive response to the report as well as an action plan to address its findings.These documents are all publicly available.RELATIONSHIPS TOOLSAmong its recommendations, the panel emphasized the need to address outstandingissues over the resettlement of the Tabaco community. It urged Cerrejon “to facilitatereconciliation between the disparate groups formed by the former inhabitants of thevillage of Tabaco … through a consultative, participatory process”. Taking up therecommendation, Cerrejon appointed the former chair of the review panel to act asindependent facilitator to a series of dialogue meetings with community members fromAugust to December 2008. This led to an agreement setting out a number of commitmentsby Cerrejon, for example to purchase a new plot of land where the Tabaco community willbe reunited.It is as yet too early to evaluate whether the concerns and grievances over the Tabacoresettlement are indeed resolved but the recent agreement marks a significant step.According to Cerrejon, “the comprehensive independent review of our social processeshas been a very constructive experience”.Source: ICMM, Human Rights in the Mining and Metals Industry: Handling and Resolving Local Level Concernsand Grievances, Pilot Testing Version, 2009. Available at:www.icmm.com/page/15816/human-rights-in-the-mining-metals-sector-handling-and-resolving-local-level-concerns-grievancesCommunity Development Toolkit79