Mining for Sustainable Development Programme
Transparent and accountable mining can contribute to sustainable development. This begins with corruption-free approvals – the very first link in the mining value chain when decisions are made about whether, where and under what circumstances to permit mining.
Corruption in mining approvals can result in environmentally unsound and socially destructive mining projects being approved, rights to a country’s mineral wealth being granted to unqualified or unethical operators, or politicians or government officials taking advantage of their position to profit from their interests in the sector. Corruption at the start of the mine lifecycle can compromise the rest of the process – impairing how operations are monitored and regulated, undermining collection of taxes and royalties and damaging the mining industry’s social licence to operate.
Transparency International’s Mining for Sustainable Development Programme (M4SD) investigated corruption risks and the underlying causes of corruption in mining approvals in 18 diverse jurisdictions. Assessing the systemic corruption vulnerabilities in mining approvals is the first step to developing effective solutions to target and prevent corruption before it occurs. Our research found that vulnerabilities to corruption exist in mining approval regimes across the world, irrespective of their stage of economic development, political context, geographic region, or the size and maturity of their mining sectors.
Through a network of TI national chapters, Transparency International’s M4SD is moving to address these corruption risks. We will work with key stakeholders – in government, civil society, local communities and the mining industry – as part of national, regional and global strategies to build trust, improve the transparency and accountability of government licencing regimes and positively influence behaviour change of all actors in the mining sector. The programme will advocate for the strengthening of national and international policy and practice and existing mining transparency initiatives to enhance the contribution of mining to sustainable human development.
For further information, please see the programme page here: http://transparency.org.au/our-work/mining-for-sustainable-development/
