Cuts to government funding and staff are also impacting community engagement. 

Some governments have decreased the allocation of financial and human resources across departments to focus on measures to mitigate the health and economic crises created by COVID. This has, in turn, reduced the capacity of relevant authorities to ensure transparency and accountability in community consultation processes. For instance, the Secretariat of Economy in Mexico announced the cancellation of the position of Undersecretary of Mining from September 2020. The Undersecretary was known to be a proponent of responsible mining, and his removal may negatively impact good governance of the sector. 

Community consultation processes associated with mining projects have taken a hit.

Traditionally, community-decision making processes require local residents to convene, which may not always be possible or safe due to COVID-19. In some contexts where the pandemic situation has not been as severe, like in the case of Obuasi Goldfields in Ghana, consultations have been conducted with adherence to social distancing and hygiene protocols. In places where the virus is more widespread, this is not possible. Governments and companies need to prioritise the safety of the communities and accordingly consider when and how to meaningfully engage with them.   

A number of projects are transitioning from face-to-face interactions to virtual consultations due to COVID-19. Use of technology may appear to be a way out but it is not fool-proof. Access to the internet is a challenge in many remote locations. Online consultation initiatives may undermine the effective participation of hard-to-reach and marginalised groups within communities.  In Latin America, for example, many communities called for consultations to be delayed, even if virtual, since such consultations will not be able to follow their cultural practices for decision-making. In the case of  Peru and Colombia (later revoked), despite resistance from Indigenous communities, governments allowed consultation with Indigenous groups to take place via virtual platforms in order not to delay mining projects. 

In these times, more than ever, civil society plays an extremely crucial role.

Civil society organisations can be the eyes and ears monitoring and understanding the quickly evolving situation on the ground. As part of Transparency International’s Accountable Mining Programme, we work with women and men in mining–affected communities through local civil society and community-based organisations to raise awareness about their rights and support them to protect their interests. Since the beginning of the COVID-19 outbreak, we have been keeping a close eye on developments through our network of country offices as well as regional and global CSO partners.  

Civil Society Organisations can: 

• Serve as an oversight entity in the consultation process. They can monitor and support local communities in their engagement with companies during pandemic times. This cooperation can also help communities call for economic measures by governments that are sustainable, respect human rights and Free, Prior, Informed Consent (FPIC). For example, the Wassa Association of Communities Affected by Mining (WACAM) in Ghana participated in a consultation process between the mining company Newmont Ghana and surrounding communities of Kenyasi to ensure meaningful engagement between the community and company.

• Strengthen local networks and grassroot partnerships. The COVID-19 pandemic has also highlighted the strength of local networks and the need for CSOs to partner with grassroot organisations. Several organisations have reported that any engagement with women and men from mining–affected communities has been a challenge in times of social distancing. Particularly in times of crisis like this, relationships with local groups can be helpful as important sources of information. The same networks can then help CSOs disseminate important resources and tools to the communities. For instance, TI-Kenya is part of the COVID-19 CSO working group of the Haki Madini Kenya Coalition. Despite direct engagement with communities being interrupted due to government measures to contain the pandemic, TI-Kenya, through this working group, has been able to monitor corruption risks in the mining sector, especially in relation to awarding mining rights. This information, in turn, supports the organisation’s national level advocacy efforts for a more transparent mining approvals system.  

• Increase impact through knowledge exchange. To have knowledge, and the ability to act on it, is power. Operating at the local level in countries around the world, Transparency International’s Accountable Mining Programme encourages organisations to leverage each other’s networks, share available information and raise awareness of mining sector governance issues at local, regional and global levels. This work is happening in a context where many countries have introduced emergency measures to tackle the pandemic that have had troubling impacts on human rights and the space for civil society. With civic space being constrained by powerful interests, strong cooperation between civil society organisations is needed more than ever to overcome the impacts of the pandemic and ensure communities’ rights and interests remain protected.  

The Accountable Mining Programme will continue to monitor COVID’s impact on community consultation as the situation evolves, and will support communities as part of its efforts to ensure mining-related decisions are transparent, accountable and free of corruption.