ASI secures funding from ISEAL Innovations Fund for Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities (IPLC) and Bauxite Mine Rehabilitation Project

16 August 2024

The Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities (IPLC) and Bauxite Mine Rehabilitation Project is set to provide practical, hands-on training in mine rehabilitation and closure at an active bauxite mine. It aims to build capacity and knowledge among IPLCs, equipping them with the skills needed to participate effectively in mine closure planning and monitoring. Representatives from five countries will be supported through this project, with opportunities for early-career ASI Entity staff to participate as well.

The project’s goals include enhancing IPLCs’ ability to contribute to mine rehabilitation discussions, fostering better mine rehabilitation practices, and ensuring that project partners benefit from collaborative capacity-building and professional development opportunities. Additionally, the project will help align mining practices with human rights regulations and improve engagement between mining entities and IPLCs. 

Intended outcomes of the project include increased IPLC knowledge and tools for mine rehabilitation, fostering effective mine closure planning and the adoption of circular economy strategies. The project seeks to enhance collaboration between IPLCs and mining entities, promoting the integration of Indigenous knowledge into operational procedures, thereby improving standards and practices.

A key aspect of the project is the implementation of Free Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) in mine closure planning, ensuring the voices of workers and local communities are amplified, IPLC rights are upheld, and collaborative approaches for ecosystem service protection are established. Training will be conducted at Gulkula Mining Company in Australia, focusing on methodologies applicable across various bauxite mining contexts, to enable participants to train others in their regions.

Several entities, including bauxite mining companies, are exploring potential ways to contribute to and support the project, including the possibility of providing prepared areas for additional collaborative work with IPLCs.

This project was made possible thanks to a grant from the ISEAL Innovations Fund, which is supported by the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs SECO.

For more information, contact Mark Annandale, ASI Director of Research and IPAF Adviser. 

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