ACCOUNTABLE MINING
OUR iMPACT
THE IMPORTANCE OF TACKLING CORRUPTION IN THE MINING SECTOR
We want to ensure the mining sector brings fair and sustainable development by guaranteeing its operations are socially and environmentally responsible.
This begins with a corruption-free process for approving mining and exploration rights.
Our work focuses on the very start of the mining value-chain: the process of awarding licences and permits. By stopping corruption at the very start of a mining operation, we stop corruption infecting the rest of the operation.
This touches on areas critical to people’s safety and well-being, including land rights, water rights, environmental impact and well-functioning government services that operate with expertise and integrity.
This is also critical to a stable business investment: a transparent, accountable and trusted process mitigates the risks of conflict, bribes, unexpected delays and damage to social licence.
We are working collaboratively with industry, government, civil society and community groups to ensure mining and exploration licences are granted through transparent, accountable and corruption-free processes.
Our global impact
Our global team, based in Australia, is engaging with mining companies to strengthen business integrity.
Click on the countries to learn more about their work.
Canada
TI Canada published two comprehensive research reports – one on the corruption risks in the process of decommissioning mines, and one on the environmental impact assessment process in the three mining-rich provinces of Ontario, British Colombia and the Yukon Territory, including research with Indigenous peoples.
Australia
TI Australia consulted with over 26 civil society, government and industry organisations to raise awareness of corruption risks in mining approval processes in Queensland and Western Australia.
The Chapter:
trained the Western Australian Corruption and Crime Commission on the Mining Awards Corruption Risk Assessment Tool;
worked with the Queensland Department of Environment and Science to increase the transparency and accountability of the environmental and social impact assessment process;
worked with the Western Australian Department of Mines, Industry, Regulation and Safety to strengthen due diligence.
worked with the Department of Environment and Science in Queensland to increase the transparency and accountability of the environmental and social impact assessment process for mining projects in the state.
Mongolia
TI Mongolia was one of three civil society organisations in a working group that drafted the new Extractives Industry Transparency Law. The Chapter strengthened beneficial ownership and integrity due diligence in Mongolia’s licensing processes.
Sierra Leone
Thanks to TI Sierra Leone’s advocacy, the National Minerals Agency included the duration of the mining licenses application at every stage of the application process in its publicly accessible Service Charter Billboard. This has helped mitigate the risk of companies using facilitation payments to fast-track mining license decisions.
Zambia
TI-Zambia regularly engaged with the Zambia Environmental Management Agency (ZEMA) to get their support for the simplification of Environmental Impact Assessment reports for local communities.
Madagascar
In Madagascar, the Chapter was active in the EITI multi-stakeholder group, and was the national coordinator for Publish What You Pay Madagascar. The Chapter worked to strengthen the public anti-corruption agency’s corruption risk assessment tool based on insights from their research into the mining sector.
Zimbabwe
TI Zimbabwe was a key player in the emerging local stakeholder network on the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative. Together with other civil society organisations, such as the Zimbabwe Environmental Law Association, they became a reference point for EITI discussions.
Our approach
Connecting
We are connecting the knowledge and experience from our locally led work across more than 20 countries to global initiatives and company headquarters.
Collaborating
We are collaborating with local, regional and global organisations and mining companies to share knowledge, workshop strategies, build networks and work together to stop corruption.
Researching
Our research and collaborative approach supports governments, business and civil society organisations prevent and stop corruption in the mining sector.
Partnering
Our Global Team, based in Melbourne with Transparency International Australia partners with a global network of anti-corruption initiatives.
This includes the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative, Publish What You Pay, the Natural Resource Governance Institute, the Open Government Partnership, the World Bank Extractive Practice, the U4 Anti-Corruption Centre and the International Council on Mining and Metals.
We speak at major mining industry and anti-corruption events about practical steps mining companies can take to reduce corruption risks. We have also hosted side events for companies, civil society and government to engage more deeply in sharing solutions to strengthen transparency and accountability.
COORDINATING & STRENGTHENING
Our global team connects the knowledge and insights from our local and national-led work across 23 countries to advance global awareness about mining corruption risks
Our multi-stakeholder engagement approach sees discussion and collaboration with a wide variety of groups – from local community organisations to multinational companies. Many of the groups we established – whether at a local community level or a high-level political engagement, are sustainable and self-sustaining.
We have also strengthened the approach of our chapters and peers by integrating gender considerations into our corruption-fighting work. This has resulted in an updated version of the MACRA tool which incorporates gender.
