Social
For us, society is an inclusive concept. It embraces our workforce, the communities in which they live, the citizens of host countries and the implications of what we do for the wider population for generations to come.
Community engagement
The communities where we operate are crucial to our success; they provide and house our employees, and are often a valuable part of our supply chain. At the same time, we are often vital to their growing prosperity. Mutual dependence makes it only natural that we want to make positive and enduring contributions to our hosts. Being a good neighbour is good business.
But what does being a good neighbour mean when you're an organisation the size of Anglo American?
For us, it involves using our skills and resources at local, national and international levels to support the sustainable development outcomes and capacities of host communities.
At the local level, that can involve initiatives like helping nearby businesses to develop through training, social investment and capacity building. Sometimes, these neighbours become our suppliers as well.
Global leaders
Nationally and internationally, we're among the leaders in our industry to improve host countries' local economies. For example, supply chain opportunities and development schemes help to maximise the local benefits of our operations. But our efforts also go beyond that. By identifying and working with key stakeholders, we're creating new, more accountable ways to improve the lives of local people – now and for years to come.
Social in China
Tarmac Huzhou in Zhejiang province has undergone the Socio-Economic Assessment Toolbox (SEAT) process to make sure the community issues were properly handled. A community engagement office was set up, which holds regular meetings with the local villagers. The company contributed to the community’s infrastructure development through the construction of a road, local drainage and irrigation systems, as well as the provision of free stone building materials for the residents’ homes.
The Anglo American Foundation provided US$250,000 to Plan International to help develop the Mengjiawan Township community in Yulin. Plan International, an NGO, has been working in Shaanxi for several years on poverty alleviation and community projects and it is managing the project at Mengjiawan on behalf of Anglo American and other contributors. The donation was used to install sanitation equipment, to provide drinkable water and to construct irrigation systems in seven villages with 1,200 households and a total of 5,300 people.