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Problems with Reporting and Evaluating Mining Industry Community Development Projects: A Case Study from Tanzania

Author

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  • Jody Emel

    (Graduate School of Geography, Clark University, 950 Main Street, Worcester, MA 01610, USA)

  • Madoshi H. Makene

    (Graduate School of Geography, Clark University, 950 Main Street, Worcester, MA 01610, USA)

  • Esther Wangari

    (Towson University, 8000 York Rd., Baltimore, MD 21252, USA)

Abstract

Reporting on contributions to community development is one way gold mining companies communicate the expanse and depth of their commitment to social responsibility. These projects are intended to provide the mine-proximate communities with some of the wealth and other benefits generated by mine development in their locales. We raise questions about reporting and evaluation of community development projects undertaken by AngloGold Ashanti in the two communities of Nyakabale and Nyamalembo, near its Geita mining projects in the Lake Victoria goldfields of Tanzania. We use archival data and data obtained from field research conducted during different periods throughout 2005, 2007 and 2010 to compare what the company reports to have done with what is found on the ground. Our findings revealed that the corporate reporting is misleading, ambiguous, and omissive. Much of the effort labeled “community development” benefited the companies directly via infrastructure development, food supplies to the mine cafeteria, and worker health. We argue that, if Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) projects are to be the primary way local people directly benefit from mine development, the relationship between the value of those projects and the wealth taken from the location should be considered, community projects should be well defined and differentiated from company-oriented projects, and community representatives should participate in monitoring the success and impact of community development projects.

Suggested Citation

  • Jody Emel & Madoshi H. Makene & Esther Wangari, 2012. "Problems with Reporting and Evaluating Mining Industry Community Development Projects: A Case Study from Tanzania," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 4(2), pages 1-21, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:4:y:2012:i:2:p:257-277:d:16224
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Madoshi H. Makene & Jody Emel & James T. Murphy, 2012. "Calling for Justice in the Goldfields of Tanzania," Resources, MDPI, vol. 1(1), pages 1-20, December.
    2. Lucas Inacio Santos & Rosley Anholon & Dirceu Silva & Carlos Raul Etulain & Vasco Sanchez Rodrigues & Walter Leal Filho, 2022. "Corporate social responsibility projects: critical success factors for better performance of Brazilian companies and guidelines to qualify professionals and entrepreneurs," International Entrepreneurship and Management Journal, Springer, vol. 18(4), pages 1685-1706, December.
    3. Andrea Leuenberger & Olga Cambaco & Hyacinthe R. Zabré & Isaac Lyatuu & Jürg Utzinger & Khátia Munguambe & Sonja Merten & Mirko S. Winkler, 2021. "“It Is Like We Are Living in a Different World” : Health Inequity in Communities Surrounding Industrial Mining Sites in Burkina Faso, Mozambique, and Tanzania," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(21), pages 1-22, October.
    4. Veronica Devenin & Constanza Bianchi, 2018. "Soccer fields? What for? Effectiveness of corporate social responsibility initiatives in the mining industry," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 25(5), pages 866-879, September.
    5. Samuel Spiegel & Susan Keane & Steve Metcalf & Marcello Veiga, 2015. "Implications of the Minamata Convention on Mercury for informal gold mining in Sub-Saharan Africa: from global policy debates to grassroots implementation?," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 17(4), pages 765-785, August.
    6. Poncian, Japhace & Jose, Jim, 2019. "Resource governance and community participation: Making hydrocarbon extraction work for Tanzania," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 62(C), pages 84-93.
    7. Devenin, Veronica & Bianchi, Constanza, 2019. "Characterizing a mining space: Analysis from case studies in Chile and Australia," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 63(C), pages 1-1.
    8. Willy MALIGANYA & Kenneth M. K. BENGESI, 2023. "Compliance Of Large-Scale Mining Companies To Regulatory Framework For Sustainable Mining: A Case Of Buzwagi Gold Mine, Kahama District, Tanzania," Business Excellence and Management, Faculty of Management, Academy of Economic Studies, Bucharest, Romania, vol. 13(3), pages 73-96, September.
    9. Wilson, Sigismond A., 2022. "Measuring the effectiveness of corporate social responsibility initiatives in diamond mining areas of Sierra Leone," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 77(C).

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