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of the mining cycle and also after mine closure. Corporate representatives state that
“during the exploration stage (they) are hiring locals to support current drilling projects … The local community board gives (the company) potential workers’ CVs and
(the company) selects them through an internal process” (Corporate Representative,
Interview, October, 2012).
Other corporate initiatives for employment generation are based on the implementation of bottom-up approaches for entrepreneurship. However, these initiatives
are still in a very early stage, and so their impact on communities cannot yet be
measured. For example, dress-making entrepreneurship programmes in which
female leaders are participating are one of the existing bottom-up initiatives in
place: “This training will help us get employed either by the company or educational institutions to make the company workers’ or school students’ uniforms”
(Community Representatives, Focus Group, November, 2012).
Stakeholders in Risaralda have come to the realisation that natural resource
extraction has compromised physical and environmental wellbeing and therefore
communities should be compensated for by a gain in other components of wellbeing. Such compensation has mainly occurred in improvements in economic wellbeing with a focus on economic diversification. This has led to positive livelihood
transformations, as locals have been able to generate income from industries other
than mining.
Quinchia is a small town with a strong sense of community. Despite the long
history of conflict in this town, locals have become psychologically resilient. They
are supportive of one another and very often gather together to discuss issues relevant to all. These after-work informal catch-up meetings take place at the main
square or in the public park. In those meetings, small groups of company staff, community members and government representatives get together to discuss topics that
have an impact on the community. Observations undertaken during fieldwork show
that the agreements that resulted from these informal meetings were often more
effective than those formally established and contributed to improve community
wellbeing in other dimensions, including psychological, material, cultural and
environmental.
Investments in infrastructure have advanced material wellbeing, fostered longterm improvements in livelihoods and physically equipped educational institutions
for the promotion of cultural wellbeing in the form of education: “community
members have been given education in human relations, food security, family guidance and conflict resolution” (Community Representatives, Focus Group, November,
2012). Locals have a strong perception that education in social responsibility has
assisted them cope with shocks like internal conflict. One of the respondents agrees
that being exposed to this initiative has helped him and the community organisation
he represents “prevent conflicts within (the) association” (Community Leader,
Interview, November, 2012).
Abstracting from the Antioquia case, Fig. 13.1 shows the key features, benefits
and limitations of a top-down industry-based approach to sustainable development.
Such an approach delivers mining-related benefits in the form of skill training,
employment opportunities, local boost to retail trade from miners and increased
13 SDG 12 Responsible Consumption and Production
of the mining cycle and also after mine closure. Corporate representatives state that
“during the exploration stage (they) are hiring locals to support current drilling projects … The local community board gives (the company) potential workers’ CVs and
(the company) selects them through an internal process” (Corporate Representative,
Interview, October, 2012).
Other corporate initiatives for employment generation are based on the implementation of bottom-up approaches for entrepreneurship. However, these initiatives
are still in a very early stage, and so their impact on communities cannot yet be
measured. For example, dress-making entrepreneurship programmes in which
female leaders are participating are one of the existing bottom-up initiatives in
place: “This training will help us get employed either by the company or educational institutions to make the company workers’ or school students’ uniforms”
(Community Representatives, Focus Group, November, 2012).
Stakeholders in Risaralda have come to the realisation that natural resource
extraction has compromised physical and environmental wellbeing and therefore
communities should be compensated for by a gain in other components of wellbeing. Such compensation has mainly occurred in improvements in economic wellbeing with a focus on economic diversification. This has led to positive livelihood
transformations, as locals have been able to generate income from industries other
than mining.
Quinchia is a small town with a strong sense of community. Despite the long
history of conflict in this town, locals have become psychologically resilient. They
are supportive of one another and very often gather together to discuss issues relevant to all. These after-work informal catch-up meetings take place at the main
square or in the public park. In those meetings, small groups of company staff, community members and government representatives get together to discuss topics that
have an impact on the community. Observations undertaken during fieldwork show
that the agreements that resulted from these informal meetings were often more
effective than those formally established and contributed to improve community
wellbeing in other dimensions, including psychological, material, cultural and
environmental.
Investments in infrastructure have advanced material wellbeing, fostered longterm improvements in livelihoods and physically equipped educational institutions
for the promotion of cultural wellbeing in the form of education: “community
members have been given education in human relations, food security, family guidance and conflict resolution” (Community Representatives, Focus Group, November,
2012). Locals have a strong perception that education in social responsibility has
assisted them cope with shocks like internal conflict. One of the respondents agrees
that being exposed to this initiative has helped him and the community organisation
he represents “prevent conflicts within (the) association” (Community Leader,
Interview, November, 2012).
Abstracting from the Antioquia case, Fig. 13.1 shows the key features, benefits
and limitations of a top-down industry-based approach to sustainable development.
Such an approach delivers mining-related benefits in the form of skill training,
employment opportunities, local boost to retail trade from miners and increased
13 SDG 12 Responsible Consumption and Production