sierra leone mining communities and ebola
TRANSCRIPT
Mining Companies and Community Relations:
© 2014 INDEPENDENT SOCIAL PERFORMANCE PTE. LTD.
Mine Workers in Sierra Leone
Effects of the Ebola Outbreak
Active Research
MARCH 2015 PRELIMINARY RESULTS
Introductions Who we are
Who We Are
Independent Social Performance is a Social Enterprise that works to build understanding between extractive companies and local communities in complex social environments around the world.
PROJECT ROLES: Project Instigator, Co-Lead, In-Country Research Lead
Habitat Health Impact Consulting works with companies and governments to assess the health of communities, the factors that influence it, and how social, economic or physical change might impact community health.
PROJECT ROLES: Project Co-Lead, Data Analysis of In-Country Research
IBIS is a Danish International Development NGO that works on education and democratic issues. IBIS has a strong country presence in Sierra Leone where it also works on extractive related projects.
PROJECT ROLES: Project Support, In-Country Research Funder
Background Project
Jordon Kuschminder - independentsp.com
Project Objectives
1. Understand socio-economic and health implications of the Ebola outbreak in mining and non-mining communities.
2. Understand the experience of mining host communities during the Ebola outbreak.
3. Identify learning's that can be applied to future outbreak contexts.
4. Understand the effect of the outbreak on mining company and host community relationships.
Project Timeline
Before During After
Before • 6 Mines 6 Communities Community Perception Study, finished in May
2014!!During (at the height) • Ebola Outbreak in Mining Host Communities, interviews in September
and October, 2014!!After (at the downturn)!• Ebola Outbreak in Mining Host Communities, follow up interviews in
February 2015!
Project Timeline Planning Active Research 6 Mines, 6 Communities
Project
Project Support Tool A website was built to keep the multi-national project team aware of the
dynamic project context. The website aggregates news articles from local, national and international news sources and remains an open-access resource.
• Ebola virus disease and spread to Sierra Leone by May 2014[2] (the same time Independent SP was wrapping up data collection for the 6 Mines, 6 Communities Perception Study)
• By October 2014, all districts in Sierra
Leone have confirmed cases of Ebola[3]: • ±5 people/hour were being infected
with Ebola [5]
• the total number of infected was doubling every 20 days[6]
• As of March 2015, widespread transmission continues with 60-100 new cases per week[7]
Quick Recent History of Ebola in Sierra Leone
Methodology Project Objectives &
Project Objectives
1. Understand socio-economic and health implications of the Ebola outbreak in Sierra Leone mining and non-mining communities.
2. Understand the experience of Sierra Leone mining host communities during the Ebola outbreak.
3. Identify learning's that can be applied to future outbreak contexts.
4. Understand the effect of the outbreak on mining company and host community relationships.
Project Methodological Approach
1. Secondary Data Review
2. Project Planning, Tool and Guidelines
Development
3. Key Informant Interviews (Structured)
4. Data Coding and Analysis
Health Consequence Objec2ves
5. Project Report
FAO/ILO Initial Livelihood Impact Appraisal for
Sudden On-set Crisis framework
IFC Environmental Health Areas
IFC Performance Standards
Socio-‐Economic Impact and Risk
Objec2ves Socio-‐Economic Impact and Risk
Learnings
Health Consequence Learnings
Follow-‐Up/Status Update
Interviews
• We are currently at STEP 4 – Data Coding and Analysis
Interviewees
Bumbuna, Tonkolili District
Tankoro, Kono
District
Lunsar, Port Loko
District
Imperi, Moyamba/
Bonthe Districts
# of people interviewed
in Community*
37 34 36 37
#of mining company interviews
0 1 1 1
* People interviewed in the communities included members of the Chiefdom Administration and village government, community leaders, health providers, community organizations, and NGOs.!
Study Communities
1
Lunsar (London Mining)
Bumbuna (African Minerals)
Imperi (Sierra Rutile & Vimetco
Mining)
Tankoro (Octea Ltd.)
1
1
1
GUINEA
LIBERIA
What changed? During the outbreak...
© 2014 INDEPENDENT SOCIAL PERFORMANCE PTE. LTD.
“We are not important or not human because we live in the
villages”!
Bumbuna, Tonkolili District
“They have virtually abandoned us in the township while they and their
workers are in their camps”!!
“The relationship can only be built up when the company starts full
operations and is calling back staff who were asked to go ”
After
“Kono is the bread basket of Sierra Leone, so we
were really expecting our Kono to become the
paradise of Sierra Leone”
Tankoro, Kono District
“There has not been a significant change other than
donations made to the Government ”
“The relationship between the people of Kono and the mining companies is one
of disillusionment that probably may degenerate”
CREDIT: REUTERS/BAZ RATNER
After
Lunsar, Port Loko District
© 2014 INDEPENDENT SOCIAL PERFORMANCE PTE. LTD.
“Let me tell you, here we are just praying so that sickness cannot attack one of us especially we the women”
“On the whole, with the Ebola outbreak, the relationship is changing for better. We can only hope this caring continues even after the Ebola outbreak”
“If there is a food shortage, all those gains will be meaningless as every human being needs food for its survival”
CREDIT: Michael Duff/AP, The Guardian © 2014 INDEPENDENT SOCIAL PERFORMANCE PTE. LTD.
After
“We have to blame our Paramount Chiefs and the center government, they are the ones that have sold our human rights to
these mining companies”
“[The outbreak] has further united us as one family living in the same community
with one aim of preventing and eradicating this scourge from the
community”
“After the Ebola outbreak we can have a better relationship with the companies
more than even before the Ebola outbreak”
© 2014 INDEPENDENT SOCIAL PERFORMANCE PTE. LTD.
After Imperi, Bonthe/Moyamba Districts
Learned Lessons
What were the biggest problems in the communities… Was it really Ebola?
1
The Ebola outbreak did change the relationship between the companies and the communities- But for how long?
2
Public health matters… for communities and business
CREDIT: Michael Duff/AP, CBC
3
Creating, and removing “tiers”
4
The community needs to be a partner
5
Communication is everything
6
Prepare? How can your company
How can your company prepare?
CREDIT: REUTERS/BAZ RATNER
1. Emergency and Disaster Response/Relief plans should include an outbreak component. Communities should be informed and aware of the plan as well as expected procedures that the company may take in the event of an outbreak.
2. If a full Health Impact Assessment is not conducted, the Social Impact Assessments should include a health component that includes the health care capacity of the community and identifies any specific risks to the community in case of an outbreak
3. Mining and Oil companies need to be aware that their access to resources and how they use those resources in a time of crisis can have a significant impact on the community
How can your company prepare?
CREDIT: REUTERS/BAZ RATNER
4. Established communication and trust between the community relations team and the community prior to the outbreak can lead to a mutually beneficial response to crisis.
5. Companies should be self-sustaining in terms of medical and emergency services on site, regardless of the country or setting.
6. Companies can go beyond financial donations, through partnering with local health teams, and by providing these teams with logistical support (e.g. vehicles).
My question to you…
For more information please contact:
Jordon Kuschminder
[email protected] Independent Social Performance
independentsp.com
Erica Westwood [email protected]
Habitat Health Impact Consulting www.habitatcorp.com
Questions? Thank you!
1. "Ebola Outbreak Blamed on Infected Bushmeat; First Family to Catch Virus Hunted Bats". Interna'onal Business Times.
2. "Gene2cs of the 2014 Ebola Outbreak". 3. "Ebola cases appear in last untouched district in Sierra
Leone". Fox News. 16 October 2014. 4. h_p://www.cdc.gov/vhf/ebola/outbreaks/2014-‐west-‐
africa/distribu2on-‐map.html 5. Ma_hew Weaver.
"Ebola infec2ng five new people every hour in Sierra Leone, figures show". the Guardian.
6. "Ebola: The Tolling Bell” 7. h_ps://www.interna2onalsos.com/Ebola/index.cfm?
content_id=397&language_id=ENG 8. "Ebola response roadmap -‐ Situa2on report". WHO 9. "Ebola response roadmap -‐ Situa2on report". WHO
References