Those community development projects that yield lasting and enduring benefits well after the mine has exhausted its resources would be centered on projects related to sustainability and integration to deal with economic, social, and other related needs in communities where mines can pose negative impacts in the future after eventual closure.
The key features and types of such programs are:
- Infrastructure development: establishing or upgrading access to key services such as education, healthcare, water, and energy infrastructures, which may remain useful after the completion of the mine life.
- Economic diversification and building of capacity: the promotion of local economic development through the provision of multiple livelihood opportunities, vocational training, small enterprises, and local purchases to minimize dependency on mining.
- Environmental stewardship and rehabilitation: focus on investing in land restoration, water management, and rehabilitation of the environment to continue to benefit from it.
- Social Inclusion and governance: engaging communities in open decision-making processes, preserving indigenous rights, and building cohesion to maintain public well being.
Case studies on companies such as Newmont and AngloGold Ashanti demonstrate the well-integrated combination of these factors to improve the livelihood of host communities in the long run. Initiatives in line with the sustainability goals on the global stage, such as the UN SDGs, are likely to be more efficient and enduring.
In general, community development programs with enduring values are centered on ensuring resilience in communities, economic self-sufficiency, and the sustainability of healthy communities beyond the lifespan of mine operation.
