Mining as a Catalyst for Community Development
For over a century, Anglo American has operated in some of the world's most diverse and dynamic communities. From the rural villages surrounding our platinum mines in South Africa's Limpopo province to the agricultural heartlands near our copper operations in Chile and Peru, our presence creates both opportunity and responsibility. We believe that mining should be a catalyst for sustainable community development β creating enduring value that persists long after the last ore is extracted.
Our approach to community development is guided by the Anglo American Social Way, a comprehensive policy framework that establishes the standards and practices we follow in every community where we operate. The Social Way goes beyond compliance with local regulations; it sets ambitious benchmarks for community engagement, benefit-sharing, and social impact measurement that reflect our conviction that mining companies have a moral obligation to improve the lives of their host communities.
The Collaborative Regional Development Programme
Anglo American's Collaborative Regional Development (CRD) programme is our flagship community investment initiative. Rather than pursuing isolated corporate social responsibility projects, CRD takes a systems-based approach to regional development, working with governments, civil society organisations, and community leaders to create integrated development plans that address the unique needs and opportunities of each region.
The programme operates on three core principles:
- Shared ownership: Development plans are co-created with community stakeholders, ensuring that investments reflect local priorities and are owned by the communities they serve.
- Catalytic investment: Anglo American's funding is designed to leverage additional investment from government, development finance institutions, and the private sector, multiplying the impact of every dollar invested.
- Sustainability beyond mining: All CRD initiatives are designed to be self-sustaining, with clear transition plans that ensure continued operation after Anglo American's involvement concludes.
Enterprise Development and Job Creation
One of the most powerful ways mining companies can support community development is through enterprise development and local procurement. Anglo American's enterprise development programmes have supported thousands of small and medium-sized businesses across our host countries, creating jobs and building economic resilience in communities that have historically been dependent on mining employment.
Our key enterprise development achievements include:
- Zimele Programme (South Africa): Since its inception, Anglo American's Zimele enterprise development programme has provided funding, mentorship, and business support to over 4,500 small enterprises, creating more than 58,000 jobs in mining-adjacent communities. The programme spans multiple sectors, including agriculture, manufacturing, construction, and services.
- Emerging Entrepreneurs (Chile): In partnership with local government and business development organisations, our Chilean operations support a network of over 3,000 small enterprises, providing access to capital, training, and market opportunities.
- Local procurement commitments: Anglo American has committed to sourcing a minimum percentage of goods and services from local and historically disadvantaged suppliers in every jurisdiction where we operate. In South Africa, local procurement from host community suppliers exceeds $1 billion annually.
Education and Skills Development
Investing in education is investing in the future. Anglo American's education programmes span the full spectrum, from early childhood development to tertiary education and vocational training:
- School infrastructure: We have built or renovated over 150 schools across our host communities in South Africa, Brazil, and Chile, providing safe, modern learning environments for tens of thousands of students.
- STEM education: Our science, technology, engineering, and mathematics programmes introduce young people to the skills they will need in the economy of the future, with a particular focus on girls and young women in underrepresented communities.
- Bursary and scholarship programmes: Each year, Anglo American provides bursaries to hundreds of students from host communities, enabling them to pursue higher education in fields ranging from mining engineering and geology to environmental science and data analytics.
- Technical and vocational training: Our training centres provide accredited vocational qualifications that equip community members with marketable skills, whether or not they ultimately work in mining.
Health and Wellbeing
Anglo American invests significantly in community health infrastructure and programmes. In southern Africa, where our operations are concentrated, we have been a leader in the fight against HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis for over two decades. Our workplace testing, treatment, and prevention programmes have achieved viral suppression rates that exceed national averages, and we extend these services to employees' families and surrounding communities through our community health partnerships.
Beyond infectious disease, we support maternal and child health, nutrition, and mental health programmes that address the broader determinants of community wellbeing. Our mobile health clinics bring essential healthcare services to remote communities that would otherwise have limited access to medical care.
Creating Value That Endures
Anglo American's commitment to community development is grounded in the understanding that our social licence to operate is earned, not granted. By working in genuine partnership with host communities, investing in their priorities, and building economic and social infrastructure that endures beyond mining, we are creating a model of responsible mining that benefits everyone. Thriving communities are not just a social imperative β they are the foundation of a sustainable mining industry.