Community Protocols and Extractive Industries

This guide by Natural Justice provides a framework for communities to develop and use community protocols when interacting with extractive industries and large-scale investment projects. It outlines the unique challenges posed by the complexity of these projects, including the need to define community identity, manage external timeframes, and protect sensitive information while navigating a complex landscape of private and public stakeholders.

• Developing community protocols in the context of extractive industries presents unique challenges due to the scale and complexity of projects, which typically involve numerous governmental and non-governmental actors, both domestic and foreign.
• There are six primary challenges for communities and facilitators in the extractives sector: conceptualising the community without creating friction, managing externally imposed timeframes, creating a viable tool for external interaction without imposing a format, staying current with rapid project developments and legal deadlines, managing community expectations, and handling sensitive information.
• The definition of 'community' is often contested; while outsiders may define it geographically, the community must define itself to ensure the protocol aligns with its own values. In extractive contexts, projects can cause divisiveness as members compete for short-term resources or benefits, sometimes leading to 'elite capture' where a small influential group protects their own interests.
• Community protocols can serve both defensive and aspirational purposes depending on the project stage. Defensive uses include objecting to projects or denouncing rights violations and environmental impacts. Aspirational uses include requesting equitable benefit sharing, regular information exchange, or support for local livelihood development.
• The mining industry follows a five-step life cycle: Exploration, Feasibility and Planning, Construction, Operation, and Closure and Reclamation. A community protocol is a 'living document' that can be revised at each stage to define terms of engagement or assist in finalizing agreements such as memorandums of understanding or community development agreements.
• Managing expectations is critical because protocols are not a guaranteed solution; they may not stop a project or ensure high monetary shares. However, they can lead to improved relationships with government agencies, skills transfers, or formal recognition of community rights.
• Protecting sensitive information—such as the locations of sacred sites, identities of leaders, or traditional knowledge—is essential to prevent external damage. Communities should establish clear terms for sharing this information and may use security measures like passwords for digital records.

APA

von Braun, J. (n.d.). Community Protocols and Extractive Industries. Natural Justice. https://naturaljustice.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/toolbox_4.pdf

Chicago

von Braun, Johanna. Community Protocols and Extractive Industries. Natural Justice, n.d. https://naturaljustice.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/toolbox_4.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=von Braun |first1=Johanna |title=Community Protocols and Extractive Industries |publisher=Natural Justice |url=https://naturaljustice.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/toolbox_4.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{vonbraunndcommunity, author = {von Braun, Johanna}, title = {{Community Protocols and Extractive Industries}}, institution = {Natural Justice}, url = {https://naturaljustice.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/toolbox_4.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }