Community Participation in Corporate Social Responsibility Practices of North Mara Gold Mine in Tanzania

Abstract

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) projects that do not engage local communities around the areas of their operation are often unsuccessful or rejected by their intended beneficiaries. In Tanzania, some communities ignore or reject CSR projects, raising doubts about whether they were initially involved in such projects. Drawing from North Mara Gold Mine CSR initiatives, this paper argues that community acceptance or rejection of CSR projects relates to the extent to which the mining company engages with the community. The paper utilises survey data drawn from a systematic sample of 358 households. In addition, it uses data from interviews, documentary review and focus group discussions. The study applies descriptive and content analysis to make sense of the data. The results show inadequate involvement of communities around the goldmine in all the stages of the CSR project cycle. Consequently, the North Mara Gold Mine’s CSR initiatives have not served as an effective tool to harmonise community relations and mitigate conflicts.