Introduction

EISEI serves as a national level communication and knowledge-sharing network created to facilitate the study and dissemination of information regarding environmental impacts from Cambodia’s growing extractive industries. This network is envisioned to provide a solid foundation for implementing future education, technical support and advocacy initiatives addressing community and civil society concerns about extractive industry activities in Cambodia.  

EISEI Goal

EISEI’s long term goal is to foster a cooperative and productive relationship between communities, government ministries and the private sector entities involved in and affected by the extractive industry in Cambodia. This relationship is intended to provide a voice for underrepresented communities and to facilitate greater access to information concerning EI operations and related developments with the aim of addressing issues arising from the exploration and exploitation of mineral resources in Cambodia. The EISEI network will provide an arena and framework for this relationship to develop and flourish. 

EISEI Objective

EISEI’s main objective is to promote and sustain dialogue between affected communities, government ministries and the private sector that enables all sectors to benefit from the development of extractive industries in Cambodia while minimizing adverse impact to its land and people.

Activities crucial to achieving this main objective are:

1. Promulgating the idea of, and need to obtain, free, prior and informed consent from potentially affected communities as early as possible in the extractive industry development process;
2. Minimizing the potential for EI projects to force communities from their land or restrict their access to natural resources;
3. Minimizing the potential for EI projects to result in long term adverse social and environmental impacts;
4. Minimizing the presence of EI projects in areas of high cultural and/or ecological value;
5. Proactively supporting responsible management of pollutants and contaminants associated with EI projects. 

EISEI Strategies

EISEI’s implementation strategies hinge on network outreach and education, conducting or coordinating technical analysis of social and environmental impacts from extractive industries, and advocacy at the local, provincial, national and international level.. These three strategies are presented in further detail below:

Network Outreach and Education Plan

Upon finalization and adoption of the EISEI network structure, objectives and strategic plan by the EISEI Steering Committee and EISEI member organizations, an outreach campaign will be initiated targeting the three constituencies central to EISEI’s effort – affected communities, government ministries and private sector EI operators. However, due to significant knowledge and socioeconomic gaps between these three constituencies, the primary focus of EISEI’s network outreach plan will be to conduct educational outreach and advocacy training at the Community, Local and Provincial levels to build the capacity needed for these groups to engage productively with all stakeholders.  In order to encourage EISEI’s desired outcome with each group, EISEI will tailor the focus and communication style used to engage the three categories of stakeholders. Therefore, in addition to a standard range of outreach formats (i.e. NGO position papers, radio announcements, etc.) additional work will be done to present EISEI to all three constituencies in the most meaningful, relevant and informative fashion. Some specific items for each group could include: 

                Community/Local and Provincial Level

1.  Visually focused learning materials (see appendix) addressing social and environmental impacts, the EIA process, relevant laws, etc.;

2.  Village, district or srok level community events with EI awareness as a central theme (presented through theater, music, contests, etc.);

3.  Capacity building with community members and network member organizations to organize and engage actively in: a) dialogue with the full range of stakeholders, b) learning about and actively participating in existing local government institutions and, c) appropriate advocacy initiatives concerning EI operations affecting them or their constituents.

                Government/National Level

1.  Increase capacity of affected communities to engage relevant government agencies and ministries;

2.  Partner with relevant agencies to share information and expertise on EI issues;

3.  Explore formalizing such arrangements with MOUs, official project partnerships, etc.

                Industry/International Level

1.  Produce a body of materials in relevant languages (i.e. Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese) in order to increase awareness of applicable industry standards regarding social and environmental responsibility and best management practices at the company level, and potentially the company’s home government level;

2.  Where requested, support companies and industry to develop, promote and implement environmentally and socially responsible approaches to resource extraction.

Technical Analysis

In order to create an impartial forum for discussion and resolution of EI issues, EISEI will be prepared to undertake or coordinate independent analysis of issues related to EI activities reported by network members. Optimally, EISEI will aim to obtain information necessary to evaluate social and environmental impacts from EI activities from the range of stakeholders in the network. However, in cases where EISEI is unable to access sufficient information from network sources to form an understanding of the significance of any reported issues, EISEI will be prepared to conduct, or commission, the following activities in order to provide the independent assessment necessary to begin dialogue.

1. Background and baseline data collection;
2. Preparation of Initial Social & Environmental Impact Assessments (ISEIA);
3. Making possible recommendations for subsequent Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA) or Social and Environmental Impact Assessments (SEIA);
4. Coordinating or conducting independent verification of implementation of prescribed mitigation measures and monitoring plans.

Advocacy

In conjunction with the aforementioned educational and analysis efforts, advocating awareness of the range of issues related to extractive industry is crucial at all levels (local, provincial, national and international). Each level will require a tailored approach encompassing awareness building through media and education campaigns. As such, the following strategies are suggested to facilitate EISEI’s engagement of the range of stakeholders representing each level:

                Local Level Advocacy

1.   Leverage the capacity of local network members and member organizations to research, monitor and report extractive industry activity in their areas;

2.   Support and advocate for local network members and member organizations to take ownership of the issues affecting them, engage in local government processes and build local level capacity to present their positions, concerns and findings to their communities, companies, local, provincial, national and international civil society organizations and local government officials;

3.   Where necessary, facilitate the development of relationships between community and company representatives, with the aim of resolving community concerns peacefully and respectfully.

Provincial Level Advocacy

1.  Leverage the capacity of provincial level network members and member organizations to research, monitor, document and organize local and provincial level reporting of extractive industry activity in their areas;

2.  Engage provincial level government to create relationships and support their efforts to encourage responsible management of exploitable resources at the provincial level;

3.  Create opportunities for provincial level network members and member organizations to engage all network members, provincial government, national government and international entities;

4.  Support provincial level government bodies and officials to voice any of their concerns related to EI operations with national level government officials and political parties.

                National Level Advocacy

1.  Engage national level government to create relationships and support their efforts to encourage responsible management of exploitable resources;

2.   Link national level government, members and member organizations with other network members through creating opportunities to engage other local, provincial and international level members, create relationships and share information;

3.   Organize field studies for national level government, members and member organizations and national level NGOs/INGOs to visit mining sites and document impacts;

4.   Work with national level government to adopt national level extractive industry policies in line with international standards of best management practices and the application of relevant international environmental and human rights conventions to which Cambodia is a signatory party. 

International Level Advocacy

1.   Engage international stakeholders (companies, organizations, etc.) to create relationships and initiate or support efforts to encourage responsible management of exploitable resources;

2.   Link international stakeholders with other network members through creating opportunities to engage other local, provincial and international level members, create relationships and share information;

3.   Link members and member organizations with relevant foreign civil society organizations, government bodies and regional fora to seek cooperation, information sharing and the raising of the profile of Cambodia’s challenges with EI. 

4.   Encourage dialogue with international governments to learn about their own approaches to extractive industry issues and their own application of international environmental and human rights conventions;

5.   Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) focus via industry journals to raise awareness of good and bad practices of EI in Cambodia.

Appendix - Outreach Strategies - Creation of Khmer Language Resources for Capacity Building

a. Visually focused fact sheets on the following:

                      i.      Existing regulations related to mining

                      ii.     Existing regulations related to protected areas

                                           iii.    Mining processes

                     iv.     Chemical agents used in mining

                      v.     Water quality degradation

                     vi.     Watershed management

                     vii.   Water quality improvement measures

                     viii.  Free, Prior and Informed Consent

                     ix.    Mining and Women

                      x.    Mining and marginalized groups

                     xi.   Mining and Militarization

                    xii.    Eviction and Resettlement

                   xiii.    Mining and Public Health

                  xiv.     Mining and Land Rights

                                    xv.      Company-Community Contracts

                  xvi.     Guide to human rights monitoring

b. Creation and upkeep of a database including national, provincial and district level land use maps including data on general development (i.e. hydropower, agribusiness), mining concessions, company profiles, project status updates, etc. (GIS format)

c. Community handbook and lesson plan on the SEIA process

d. Community handbook for identifying and reporting social and environmental issues related to the mining industry

                                            i.  How to identify mining related pollution

                               ii. Who to inform

                      iii. Community responsibilities

                      iv.  Mitigation strategies

Recommendations/Ongoing Monitoring and Maintenance Plan

1.       Seek feedback from all constituencies and work it into an ongoing EISEI network monitoring and maintenance plan

2.       Seek independent appraisal of EISEI network activities to identify ways to improve operations and better serve network members