NIR - Responsibility and sustainability in Latin American Mining

NIR, along with the Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI) and Centro Vincular at the Pontificial Catholic University of Valparaíso (CV-PUCV) will work together in this contribution as a consortium. This contribution builds on the experience and networks of all its three core partner organisations and their complementary. The programme has a regional scope, producing results at national and regional level, as well as locally in specific mining areas. It is also a programme that utilises the leverage of the Swedish and international mineral value chain and the Swedish resource base, including the Swedish mining cluster, embassies and trade promotion teams. The Programme´s main objective is to contribute to "more responsible mining practices through inclusive processes with improved conditions for human rights and local environment". It will produce results on two different levels: two impact projects and a macro project, each project has a specific theory of change and is coordinated by one of the partner organizations: 1. Impact Project 1 called "Resource Management and Community Dialogue in Lithium Extraction" aims to establish regional commitments to a science-backed decision-making protocol that guarantees that lithium production remains within the sustainable capacity of salars in Argentina and Bolivia, following a previous successfully experience in Chile. 2. Impact Project 2 called "Multistakeholder Dialogue for Territorial Development in Mining Regions" has as its main objective to drive positive transformation for the local population in the mining provinces in Peru. To achieve this goal, they will implement an initiative that was already be proven effective by the IDB which focus on enhancing conditions for human rights, safeguarding the local environment, and fostering equitable development. 3. Impact project 4- in Colombia will focus on 3 components addressing key challenges in the mining sector. CO1: IMPLEMENTATION OF RESPONSIBLE MINING PRACTICES: Aim at implementing internationally recognized responsible business conduct (RBC) standards in the mining sector. CO2: WOMEN AND GENDERBASED CHALLENGES IN MINING: Aim at addressing challenges facing women in both largescale and small-scale mining. CO3: SUSTAINABILITY IN FORMAL SMALLSCALE MINING: Aim at improving environmental and human rights standards in artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM). This Impact project has been added by a major amendment to the agreement signed on July 2024. 3. Macro Project aims at institutionalize results of the impact project at regional level by influencing decision makers in key stakeholder groups with regards to the implementation of responsible business conduct (RBC) and human rights standards in the mining sector. As part of the Macro Component, a Competence Centre (CC) will be developed and maintained to enable efficient knowledge management, consolidating information generated and lessons learned. The main objective would be achieved through three main outcomes that will contribute to the impact of the project of protecting human rights, natural environment and a more equitable development through mining for the energy transition in LAC: A. Companies in the mining value chain take responsibility for protecting human rights and contributing to local development, including through inclusive dialogue. B. Public authorities implement their duty to protect human rights in connection with mining, including by enabling inclusive dialogue. C. Mining affected populations and civil society organizations are empowered to protect the (human and collective) rights of mining affected populations, in particular through inclusive dialogue.