Akobo Minerals sets a new standard for community engagement program

Extending shared values through transparency, communication and engagement are the watchwords for Akobo in building strong local ties, as practiced in our recent successful multi-stakeholder meeting in Dimma Town, Ethiopia, with federal and local government to artisanal miners, NGOs and Annuak Elders.

Akobo Minerals has recently hosted a multi-stakeholder meeting in Dimma Town, Gambela. Its purpose? To bring together the host community and potential collaborators interested in the Woredas socio-economic development to explain Akobo’s gold mining’s planned operation in and contribution to the region through our sustainable natural resources management plan (SNRMP).

Extending shared value through transparency, communication and engagement are the watchwords for Akobo in building strong local ties, so it was heartening to see so many participants in attendance – from federal and local government to artisanal miners, NGOs and Annuak Elders.

As Dr Cathryn MacCallum, head of ESG at Akobo Minerals, explained: “This meeting was a great opportunity to initiate dialogue with local representatives, to share the findings from our recent environmental and social impact assessment (ESIA) and to agree how Akobo Minerals can contribute to the sustainable development of the area’s natural resources. With more than 40 participants, along with the feedback we received, we believe we are on the right path to managing our operations in a way that promotes responsible resource stewardship.”

To implement the SNRMP and to elect representatives to sit on a community liaison committee, the interested participants agreed to establish three community-based working groups:

environmental awareness and education
sustainable livelihoods and training
and environmental rehabilitation

MacCallum concluded: “I am proud that Akobo Minerals is living up to its conviction to place the interests of the local community at its heart and to do things right.”