Mining the Socio-Economic Benefits of the Extractive Industries

Photo: Flick_jbdodane
Photo: Flick_jbdodane

The mining sector, like many others, needs to adapt and align with the Sustainable Development Goals and the Africa Mining Vision.

The convergence of political, economic, social and environmental dynamics is accelerating in the age of the Fourth Industrial Revolution. In this new world of ‘always on’ technology the mining sector, like many others, needs to adapt and align with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Africa Mining Vision (AMV), placing the communities and environments in which they operate at the centre of their business. As the initiator and driver of the Socio-Economic Technology Initiative (SETI) Project, Mining Dialogues 360° (MD360°) contends that by using innovative technology in data gathering, information management and analysis, development planning frameworks in mining areas can be enriched and the socioeconomic impact and contribution of mining to sustainable development significantly improved. This should also result in a more equitable distribution of the shared value arising from the extractive industry.

The views expressed in this publication/article are those of the author/s and do not necessarily reflect the views of the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA).