NEWSLETTER

May - June 2025 / Volume 1

Read as PDF

At MARS, we are convinced that dialogue and collaboration among the business, public, and social sectors are the path to building solutions to the social, environmental, and governance challenges facing transition mining in Latin America, which generate positive changes and concrete benefits for everyone. On this occasion, we want to highlight some significant events that drive us to continue this path hand-in-hand with our allies and stakeholders, for mining with purpose in Latin America

“Mining is more a unifying force than a divisive one.”

Juan Camilo Nariño
President of the Colombian Mining Association - ACM

Lanzamiento del Programa MARS en Colombia

On May 27th, Bogotá hosted the launch of the MARS Program in Colombia: ‘Advancing Towards More Responsible and Sustainable Mining.’ This event brought together leaders from the public and private sectors, the scientific community, and civil society to foster constructive dialogue around more responsible and sustainable mining.

The day provided an opportunity to reflect on the strategic role of mining in the global energy transition, especially in Latin America. The imperative need to anticipate its potential impacts was highlighted, ensuring inclusion, effective governance, and lasting benefits for communities. At MARS, we are convinced that dialogue and collaboration among the business, public, and social sectors are the path to building solutions to the social, environmental, and governance challenges facing transition mining in Latin America, which generate positive changes and concrete benefits for everyone. On this occasion, we want to highlight some significant events that drive us to continue this path hand-in-hand with our allies and stakeholders, for mining with purpose in Latin America. ‘

International experts from Sweden and Peru set the tone for the discussion at the event, demonstrating that sustainability, innovation, and competitiveness are compatible objectives. 

Following the high-level dialogue, two multistakeholder working groups were held, focusing on small-scale gold mining and copper development. They analyzed crucial challenges and opportunities for the sector’s future, such as formalization, interinstitutional coordination, traceability, and the implementation of sustainability standards adapted to the local context.

The success of this event marks a milestone for the MARS Program in Colombia, by providing essential input for the consolidation of its ‘Laying the Foundations’ phase, which is nearing completion. This event also opens the opportunity to continue promoting technical exchange with national and international experts and allies on formal small-scale gold mining and the development of responsible copper mining.

Connecting Leadership and Alliances for Territorial Development in Peru

On June 3rd, the workshop “Connecting Leadership and Weaving Alliances for Territorial Development” was held in Cajamarca. This space for exchange and co-creation was convened by NIR, the IDB, and R4D, with the valuable support of ICSI. The Peru Impact Project event brought together Karin Metell, Director for Latin America at the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA), along with leaders from the public and private sectors and civil society from Cajamarca, Moquegua, Pasco, Chumbivilcas, and Lima. Their active participation enriched the dialogue, marking a milestone in building alliances for sustainable territorial development. The experiences of Cajamarca and Moquegua will serve as inspiration for the processes beginning in Chumbivilcas and Pasco. The energy and commitment of the attendees open the door to a network of inter-territorial collaboration. Soon, a Multi- Stakeholder Dialogue Guide will be developed based on these experiences, and specific training workshops will be initiated in Chumbivilcas and Pasco to strengthen leadership and formal dialogue among different actors in these localities.

“Our aim is community development, achieved through mining that both advances progress and ensures environmental conservation. (…) “

Representative of civil society from Chumbivilcas,
Peru

Inaugural Regional Dialogue on Sustainable Mining

The 2025 business sector plan kicked off with great participation, including political and technical leaders from the region’s mining associations. Christine Bäckström, CEO of NIR, opened the event by highlighting that “[Latin America] has the historic opportunity to become the world’s leading provider of responsibly extracted minerals.” These meetings are an unprecedented combination of scope, focus, and theme. The first session launched virtually last Tuesday, June 10, and focused on strengthening the business case for Corporate Sustainability. It featured prominent panelists from companies like Newmont, Sandvik, and S&P Global. This session marks the first step in a work plan designed to promote an exchange of experiences and perspectives among peers, along with training and other initiatives. Together, these efforts are meant to boost the region’s competitiveness and standing by raising the mining industry’s standards for Responsible Business Conduct.

Countries:

Argentina
Bolivia
Chile
Colombia
Equador
Peru

New Alliance with OECD

On May 27th, Bogotá hosted the launch of the MARS Program in Colombia: ‘Advancing Towards More Responsible and Sustainable Mining.’ This event brought together leaders from the public and private sectors, the scientific community, and civil society to foster constructive dialogue around more responsible and sustainable mining.

The day provided an opportunity to reflect on the strategic role of mining in the global energy transition, especially in Latin America. The imperative need to anticipate its potential impacts was highlighted, ensuring inclusion, effective governance, and lasting benefits for communities. At MARS, we are convinced that dialogue and collaboration among the business, public, and social sectors are the path to building solutions to the social, environmental, and governance challenges facing transition mining in Latin America, which generate positive changes and concrete benefits for everyone. On this occasion, we want to highlight some significant events that drive us to continue this path hand-in-hand with our allies and stakeholders, for mining with purpose in Latin America. ‘

International experts from Sweden and Peru set the tone for the discussion at the event, demonstrating that sustainability, innovation, and competitiveness are compatible objectives. 

Following the high-level dialogue, two multistakeholder working groups were held, focusing on small-scale gold mining and copper development. They analyzed crucial challenges and opportunities for the sector’s future, such as formalization, interinstitutional coordination, traceability, and the implementation of sustainability standards adapted to the local context.

The success of this event marks a milestone for the MARS Program in Colombia, by providing essential input for the consolidation of its ‘Laying the Foundations’ phase, which is nearing completion. This event also opens the opportunity to continue promoting technical exchange with national and international experts and allies on formal small-scale gold mining and the development of responsible copper mining.

Our Partners

Contact MARS

Henrik Hallgren Programme Director
Andres Hernandez Regional Program Manager
Close

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

This executive summary presents the findings from the study “Workplace Cooperation: Finding Practical Solutions in the Colombian Context,” conducted by the Fundación Ideas para la Paz (FIP). The study evaluates the added value of the Swedish Workplace Programme (SWP) dialogue and cooperation model within the Colombian labor market.

Throughout 2022, FIP dedicated efforts to thoroughly understand the SWP model, including its concept, foundations, implementation process, and contributions to the labor market. In 2023, FIP documented the experiences of three companies—SKF Latin Trade, Securitas, and Epiroc—that implemented the SWP model in practice. The study also included face-to-face workshops to gather feedback from various stakeholders including civil society, businesses, government, academia, and international cooperation. The findings suggest that the SWP model has the potential to strengthen labor relations, contribute to decent work, and resolve workplace conflicts in Colombia.

The case studies highlight the importance of collaboration between employers and workers to promote decent work and sustainable development in Colombia. They demonstrate that social dialogue facilitates worker participation in labor decision-making, enhances their representativeness, and promotes cooperation between employers and employees, thus improving labor relations and contributing to the well-being of both employees and companies.

The SWP model is particularly noted for improving workplace relationships and commitment to jointly finding solutions to challenges faced by workers and the company. It empowers workers, enhances leadership, and helps integrate business policies into daily practices, reducing the initial disconnect between management objectives and the day-to-day realities of workers. The study also highlights the model’s capacity to manage conflicts constructively, transforming the perception of conflict as an opportunity for improvement. Structured dialogues deepen understanding of the underlying causes of conflicts, fostering empathy and facilitating effective resolution. This promotes a culture of collaboration and a democratic approach to decision-making, building trust.

Additionally, the model is recognized for enabling workers to make decisions, identify challenges, and propose solutions that impact their well-being, and bridging gender gaps in the workplace. Its inclusive approach adapts to the unique needs and characteristics of each company, promoting a stronger and more diverse organizational culture. It also drives good work performance and productivity by involving workers in problem identification and resolution, as well as in implementing improvements and efficiently identifying ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) risks for companies.

The document identifies the SWP model’s added value in empowering direct interaction among labor stakeholders in Colombia, overcoming historical or cultural reservations, and contributing to the development of stronger labor relations and improved workplace environments in the country.

Challenges and opportunities of the model are also discussed. The study points out the importance of addressing value chain risks, particularly in a global context where corporate clients demand decent work processes and due diligence. It emphasizes the need to integrate SMEs into this process and use anchor companies as drivers of social dialogue throughout the value chain. The role of the state in social dialogue and the importance of highlighting the benefits of the model for adoption across various business sectors are discussed.

The opportunities of the model include raising awareness of human rights in the workplace in line with the United Nations Guiding Principles (UNGP), to strengthen due diligence, manage risks, promote long-term sustainability, and improve organizational culture. The document also underscores the importance of involving workers in change processes, leveraging their insights for continuous improvement of processes, and fostering innovation opportunities. Lastly, it suggests replicating the model in value chains to address work environment risks and gender biases, involving suppliers and contractors, and integrating the model into corporate policies to strengthen existing programs and transform organizational culture towards resource efficiency and effective participation of employers and workers.