Silas David

Mineral exploration activities in Namibia are a complex and dynamic process that involves multiple stakeholders and communities, which enables the success of any mineral exploration project. To ensure that your mineral exploration project is a success, there are key aspects of stakeholders and community engagement in mineral exploration and how one can apply them in any project.

Identify stakeholders 

For every project there is a core initial step that needs to be taken into account, in any mineral exploration project it is important to identify who are the stakeholders and communities that are affected or interested in the project. These may include landowners, ministries, local authorities, regulators and others. One needs to understand their needs, expectations, interests and concerns, and how they relate to your project objectives and impacts. It is important that any person running any mineral exploration-related project use tools such as stakeholder mapping, analysis, and profiling to help with such tasks.

Establishment of trust 

This mainly means the importance of being transparent, respectful, honest, and responsive in our communication and dealings with the stakeholders. One needs to exhibit that one: values their input and feedback; is willing to listen and address the stakeholder’s issues; is committed to operating in a socially and environmentally responsible manner; and adheres to the relevant laws, standards, and best practices. 

Manage expectations 

This entails being realistic, clear and consistent in what one can deliver and what one cannot, and how one will deal with uncertainties and challenges. One needs to communicate the scope, timeline and budget, and the outcomes of the project, and how they may change over time. One also needs to identify, assess, and mitigate the potential social. Environmental, technical, and financial risks of the project, and how one will monitor and report on them. Risk registers, matrices, and plans need to be taken into account for this aspect. 

Empower

Providing stakeholders with opportunities and platforms to participate, contribute, and influence one’s project decisions and actions. One needs to consult and collaborate with the stakeholders throughout the project cycle, from planning to closure, and seek their input and feedback on key aspects of the project. One needs to support and enable their capacity building, empowerment, and development, and recognise and respect their rights, values, and culture. Forums, and committees to involve and empower one’s stakeholders and communities needs to be taken into consideration.

Resolve conflicts 

It is important to resolve conflicts and differences that may arise among your mineral exploration project’s stakeholders. This means being proactive, constructive, and respectful in dealing with any objections that may occur between oneself and the stakeholders and communities, or among them. One needs to acknowledge and address the sources and causes of conflict and seek to find mutually acceptable and beneficial solutions. 

Project exploration managers need to follow the relevant policies procedures, and mechanisms for conflict resolution, and document and communicate the outcome and action taken. Mediation, Negotiation, arbitration, and dialogue to resolve conflict and disputes should be taken into account.

Evaluate and improve

This entails measuring and assessing the effectiveness, efficiency and impact of your communiqué and alliance with your stakeholders and communities, and how they have influenced project performance and outcomes. One needs to collect and analyse data and feedback from various sources and methods, such as surveys, interviews, and reports, and to also identify the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and challenges of your engagement, and implement actions to improve them. The exploration project lead can use logic models, indicators and benchmarks to help them with the evaluation and improvements of any stakeholders.

*Silas David is a stakeholder project lead