Impact Project

Regional alignment of Responsible Business Conduct -Standards and Practice

The bigger picture

The need for a regional lever for responsible and sustainable mining

This work brings together national mining associations, mining companies, Indigenous Peoples, and other key actors to strengthen responsible mining practices across the region. By supporting dialogue, shared learning, and collaboration, it helps improve respect for human rights, strengthen participation. National mining associations play an important role by connecting actors across the sector and helping turn commitments into practice.

What we do

Creating a community of knowledge

We facilitate regional exchanges, practical learning, and self-assessment processes that help participants understand where they are today and where improvement is needed. We are creating a knowledge hub that responds to the need for stronger learning spaces, sustained capacity-building and better use of knowledge. It will help users understand risks, access relevant tools, connect with networks and turn experience into practical guidance. 

WHAT WE AIM FOR

Regional leadership turning standards into action

The work aims to strengthen the role of mining associations, Indigenous Peoples’ organisations, and other regional actors in advancing responsible mining practices. By turning international standards into practical action, it helps create stronger leadership, more consistent approaches, and greater accountability across the sector.

WHAT This Means

  • For mining associations:  
    Stronger leadership and clearer priorities.
  • For mining companies: Practical guidance on responsible mining practices.
  • For public authorities: Better reference points for dialogue and oversight.
  • For Indigenous Peoples and local communities: More informed engagement and stronger accountability.
 

3 Early Stage Results

With Mining Associations

Engaging senior leadership

The programme engaged CEOs, general managers, political representatives and sustainability leads in strategic discussions on RBC, helping move the agenda from technical awareness toward institutional positioning. Two practical sessions on due diligence and stakeholder engagement also extended the process to 25 mining company representatives.

Peer exchange built early ownership

Peer exchanges enabled associations to learn from practical cases, expert inputs and open discussion. Leadership from Chile’s Consejo Minero and Colombia’s ACM, together with sustained participation from Ecuador and Bolivia, strengthened regional alignment. All participating associations valued the exchanges and expressed interest in continuing in 2026.

A self-assessment tool to guide associations in advancing RBC

The self-reflection tool was developed and endorsed by the OECD to help mining associations establish a shared baseline, clarify their role in advancing RBC, identify strengths and gaps, and define concrete next steps for institutional strengthening

With Indigenous CommuNiTies

Protocol approach validated by regional leaders

Work in the Cusco province of Chumbivilcas and the Pasco region identified key actors, dialogue spaces, risks, and opportunities, helping to define where coordination, representation, and trust-building efforts should be focused.

Capacity-building strengthened dialogue readiness

The training processes engaged 50 leaders in Chumbivilcas and 53 in Pasco, strengthening skills for territorial understanding, participation, actor analysis, and collaborative problem-solving.

Interregional learning connected local experiences

The Cajamarca exchange connected actors from Chumbivilcas and Pasco with dialogue experiences in Cajamarca and Moquegua, strengthening peer learning, networks, and practical references for future dialogue.

Project Timeline

July 2026 // Forming the core group

Representatives define roles, responsibilities, and working arrangements.

June 2026 // A new phase is initiated

Stakeholder mapping is updated and meetings with relevant actors are held.

2025 // Capacity-Building in Chumbivilcas

Training strengthened territorial understanding, participation, advocacy tools, and trust-building.

“There’s a lack of promoting dialogue among stakeholders (…) There is an absence of consensus-building, dialogue, and negotiation to reach a mutual benefit. We need to bring in more stakeholders to start this debate and continue building consensus”

November 2025 // Capacity-Building in Pasco

Workshops covered territorial development, governance, environment, water, human rights, sustainability, cultural diversity, and responsible business conduct.

August 2025 // Territorial Analysis

Key actors, dialogue spaces, risks, opportunities, and entry points were identified in both territories.

June 2025 // Interregional Learning Exchange

Chumbivilcas and Pasco actors learned from Cajamarca and Moquegua dialogue experiences.

2025 // Project initiated with partners

Creating the Conditions for Action: Baselines, stakeholder mapping, interregional learning, and initial capacity-building in Chumbivilcas and Pasco

Implementing partner

Additional partner

Contact MARS staff at NIR

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.