Impact Project

Responsible copper mining in Colombia

Colombia’s copper story is still being written. The country is not yet a significant producer, information remains limited, and stronger coordination among relevant actors is still needed. This early stage creates a distinctive opportunity: to set the foundations for a responsible copper pathway before exploration expectations, public instruments, and future practices take hold. 

THE CHALLENGE

A transition mineral in an early stage of discussion

Copper is central to the global energy transition. In Colombia, it is also being discussed in territories marked by coal and oil extraction, where future opportunities must be balanced with environmental protection, respect for rights, meaningful stakeholder engagement, transparent governance, clear expectations around exploration, and risk management from the start. 

OUR APPROACH

Developing Common Ground Through Multi-Stakeholder Dialogue

We support responsible copper exploration in Colombia through a copper scoping study, stakeholder mapping, territorial validation, learning tools, and multi-actor dialogue in Cesar and La Guajira. This work promotes informed decisions, early risk identification, meaningful participation, and stronger environmental, social, and governance practices from the exploration stage. 

THE CHANGE WE SEEK

A responsible and inclusive pathway for informed copper decisions

Early evidence and inclusive dialogue can support a more informed copper agenda, allowing companies, authorities, and mining-affected populations to identify risks, opportunities, and responsibilities from an early stage. 

WHAT This Means

  • For mining companies:  
    Clearer alignment between responsible exploration, business priorities, due diligence, environmental and social standards, competitiveness, and social legitimacy. 
  • For public authorities:  We provide an evidence base and practical reference points to guide planning, copper bidding rounds, oversight, territorial coordination, and transparent, risk-informed decisions. 
  • For mining-affected communities: 
    A stronger voice in decisions affecting their territories and livelihoods.

3 Key Results

Baseline Evidence Is Contributing to Shared Understanding and Preparations for Informed Regional Dialogues Ahead of Copper Exploration

The initial copper scoping study consolidated key evidence on Colombia’s copper exploration context, including regulatory, social, environmental, territorial, gender and responsible mining considerations, alongside key challenges, opportunities and relevant international benchmarks.

Priorities for capacity building and dialogue clarified

The exchanges with companies and national authorities during the first stage of the project clarified expectations around copper exploration, identified gaps in engagement and information, and confirmed the need for deeper territorial insights and stakeholder dialogue in 2026.

A relevant initiative for our stakeholders

Technical exchanges with the National Mining Agency (ANM) enabled us to provide inputs to copper bidding-round instruments, with emphasis on sustainability, due diligence, territorial planning, and gender considerations.

Project Timeline

August–December 2026 // Preparing stakeholders for informed dialogue

After completing the baseline study, the initiative, led by SEI with Insuco as its territorial partner, is holding educational sessions during the second half of the year to prepare leaders and representatives of companies, institutions, communities, the media, civil society and academia for dialogue in Cesar and La Guajira.

Workshop preparation in Valledupar and La Guajira, 2026.

July 2026 // Copper Baseline Study Finalized

The completed study supports the project’s next steps, including the promotion of evidence-based territorial dialogue and the development of shared, long-term solutions for responsible copper exploration in Colombia.

Landing at an airport in Cesar, Colombia, 2026.

April–July 2026 // Territorial Consultations and Dialogue Preparation

Planned consultations, updated stakeholder mapping and dialogue tools will gather territorial perspectives in Cesar and from relevant La Guajira actors to inform recommendations and shared commitments for responsible copper exploration in Colombia.

Banyan tree in a public square, Cesar, Colombia, 2026.

May–December 2025 // Supporting Colombia’s Copper Rounds

MARS collaborated with the National Mining Agency (ANM), which requested inputs to integrate sustainability, due diligence, territorial planning and gender considerations into Colombia’s copper bidding process.

Stakeholders gathered for the MARS launch in Bogotá, Colombia, 2025.

May–November 2025 // First stage of Building the Baseline Study

The Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI) advanced the development of a copper scoping study on opportunities, risks, regulatory issues, socio-environmental conditions, territorial considerations, gender, and responsible mining standards.

May 2025 // Launch of the MARS Programme in Colombia

The Programme convened leaders from key actor groups, introduced international experiences, and opened an initial cross-sector dialogue on responsible copper in Colombia.

Stakeholders gathered for the MARS launch in Bogotá, Colombia, 2025.

January 2025 // Project Implementation Started with the Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI)

The project began laying the groundwork for a responsible copper pathway in Colombia through baseline evidence and stakeholder mapping, creating the conditions for action.

Implementing partner

The Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI) provides the project’s technical evidence base through scientific expertise, comparative analysis, regulatory review, risk assessment, and spatial analysis. In 2026, SEI will focus on finalising the copper scoping study and contributing technical inputs to validation and dialogue processes, while specialised partners support facilitation and territorial engagement. 

Additional partners

Insuco is an independent international consulting firm specialising in social sciences and social sustainability. Our goal is to connect stakeholders within a territory to build sustainability.

Contact MARS staff at NIR

Henrik Hallgren Programme Director
Andres Hernandez Regional Programme Manager
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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.