4 STRATEGIC ISSUES

Opportunities sometimes “just happen” – but more often they must be created. To be ready and able to turn mining into an opportunity to build the capacity of a community, its leaders and members have four strategic issues to address.

1. Vision: What quality of life do community members desire for the generations to come? On what strengths can we rely and what weaknesses must we overcome to get there? Will mining help or hinder the journey?
2. Benefits: Are we prepared to blend short-term benefits with benefits that have a longer lasting impact?
3. Use of Profits: Are we prepared to use profits to increase the community’s long-term assets, as well as immediate needs?
4. Partners: Are we prepared to collaborate with outsiders in order to get the capacity that big economic projects require?

Anyone who wonders how mining can be used to strengthen community self-relianceSelf-Reliance: the capacity of a community to plan and build an economic future that suits the values, priorities, and needs of its members. must address these issues up front. They will have a major effect on the strategy you design for getting benefits from mining (and may even lead you to decide to resist it). Failure to do so will guarantee difficulties that multiply over the years, in mining or in economic development generally. Therefore, the earlier they are addressed, and the clearer the decisions about each, the better.

These strategic issues will likely touch off some very lively debate. This is good. The views and information exchanged will prove invaluable when it comes to negotiating good agreements and implementing them successfully.