Corporations within developing countries often have a profound impact on the social fabric of the area within which they operate, particularly in sectors such as mining and oil and gas. Even the more socially responsible corporations have difficulty in managing their relations with and responsibilities towards local communities and other stakeholders. This publication deals with the integration of social concerns into project planning and development in the mining and oil and gas sectors. It explores the government, corporate, and NGO/community factors - referred to as critical success factors - which support the integration of social concerns. The primary focus is on corporations, and a series of recommendations are presented to assist corporations to manage the social aspects of their activities. The publication also explores the linkages between social and environmental assessment of projects, identifies current practices with respect to social assessment, and makes specific recommendations on their integration. The publication is aimed at both strategic decisionmakers (within corporations, governments and NGOs), and at those with direct responsibility for managing social issues at the project level.
