Engaged and Prosperous Communities
From the initial stages of exploration to the eventual reclamation and rehabilitation of a mine site, Eldorado relies on the relationships we have with our stakeholders to work toward socially inclusive and sustainable development.
The communities near our sites experience the most direct social, environmental and economic impacts of our business. By maintaining open and transparent communication, providing competitive wages and benefits, prioritizing local procurement, contributing our fair share of taxes and royalties, and investing in community programs and infrastructure, we work hard to support the development goals of our host communities and governments.
Our teams make concerted efforts to meet with local communities and other stakeholders in ways that reflect local cultures. For example, at Kışladağ and Efemçukuru, our community relations teams frequently visit local coffee and tea houses that act as hubs of public life for community members. The conversations we have with our neighbours in these informal settings allow us to engage with our stakeholders in a way that respects their traditions and builds strong relationships.
Indigenous peoples, including First Nations peoples in Canada, are often impacted by mining. Eldorado has a responsibility to meaningfully consult First Nations communities and provide equitable access to employment, training and educational opportunities. Our Human Rights Policy is informed by the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, and commits Eldorado to “respecting the collective and customary rights, interests, culture and connection to the land of directly affected Indigenous Peoples, if present in the area of influence. We will work to obtain their free, prior and informed consent before proceeding with development and throughout the life of the project.”
Government authorities are also important stakeholders and essential partners throughout the mining life cycle, as they provide the laws and regulations that create the context for responsible mining. To better understand government objectives and policies, provide information about our projects, discuss relevant issues and advance permitting, Eldorado maintains frequent dialogue with government authorities at the local, regional and national levels.
At each of our operating sites, community of interest committees play an important role in providing independent oversight of our activities. These committees are composed of representative and local stakeholders, including community leaders, youth, Indigenous representatives, government regulators, environmental organizations and technical experts. They meet regularly and visit our sites to observe our practices, learn about how we manage our impacts, and share their perspectives on potential improvement opportunities.
As part of a broader effort to target gender-based community development at the Efemçukuru Gold Mine, and in direct alignment with Eldorado’s commitment to foster diversity and inclusion, the “Productive Women, Strong Futures” project focuses on social and economic empowerment of local women, while generating broad-based community awareness on gender equality and rural development. Economic empowerment of women is a key development objective in the local context, aimed at addressing historical socio-cultural barriers that have resulted in lower levels of education and representation of women in the workforce. It is also a key component toward achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.
Community Investment
Our approach to community investment is responsive to local needs, while maintaining the core principles of inclusion and transparency. Engaging with local stakeholders to understand our impacts as well as their goals for the sustainable development of their communities is essential to how we identify and implement community investment projects.
Community investment projects are first assessed and then implemented by our community relations and public relations teams at each of our sites, and oversight and support are provided by management at the regional and corporate levels.
| Area of Focus | Related SDG | Our Investments |
|---|---|---|
| Arts and Culture |
|
The culture and diversity of local communities, including the preservation of heritage and the promotion of local traditions and practices |
| Economic Development |
|
Supporting local business development, skills and capacity building in the local labour force, as well as entrepreneurship opportunities |
| Education and Youth |
|
Childhood, youth and adult continuing-studies initiatives as well as research and education initiatives relevant to the mining sector |
| Environment |
|
The protection and preservation of the natural environment around our mines that go well beyond regulatory requirements |
| Health and Well-being |
|
Improved quality and access to local health care services that can operate independently and sustainably, and supporting recreational projects and sport clubs that promote healthy and active lifestyles |
| Infrastructure |
|
Physical infrastructure that supports community needs and a post-mine economy |
The culture and diversity of local communities, including the preservation of heritage and the promotion of local traditions and practices
Supporting local business development, skills and capacity building in the local labour force, as well as entrepreneurship opportunities
Childhood, youth and adult continuing-studies initiatives as well as research and education initiatives relevant to the mining sector
The protection and preservation of the natural environment around our mines that go well beyond regulatory requirements
Improved quality and access to local health care services that can operate independently and sustainably, and supporting recreational projects and sport clubs that promote healthy and active lifestyles
Physical infrastructure that supports community needs and a post-mine economy
Local Employment and Procurement
Wherever possible, we prioritize hiring local employees and working with local suppliers. This practice positively impacts local and national economies by providing well-paying jobs and generating government revenues that can be directed towards health care, education and infrastructure.
We believe in recruiting local employees and contractors whenever possible, including for senior roles in which local knowledge and expertise can provide advantages for our business. Where local skills exist, we are committed to providing opportunities for growth and development. In local communities that are less familiar with mining, we work to train employees and provide them with valuable and transferable skills that will have a positive legacy beyond their employment with Eldorado.
In accordance with the relevant laws and regulations, we uphold strong and fair labour practices. We encourage equal opportunities and base our hiring practices on skills and experience as stated in our Diversity Policy. As outlined in our Code of Ethics and Business Conduct and our Human Rights Policy, everyone at Eldorado is expected to maintain a safe and healthy work environment and promote a workplace that is free from discrimination and harassment. We expect our business partners, including security providers, contractors and suppliers to share this commitment to rights.
Complaints and Grievances
We believe that conducting business honestly and respectfully requires open communication between our sites and stakeholders. When grievances are raised, we act and respond with due diligence. Effective grievance mechanisms play an important role in governing and remediating any impacts.
As part of our Code of Ethics and Business Conduct, we have a Whistleblower Policy so that any stakeholder, internal or external, can confidentially report any concerns, which are managed by an external whistleblower-reporting agency. Eldorado’s Audit Committee Chair and Corporate Secretary oversee all submissions and investigations.
Our Community Response Standard in SIMS requires all of our sites to receive, manage and respond to community grievances, comments, and requests, in conformance with Level A of the MAC-TSM Indigenous and Community Relations Protocol.