Asia Society Policy Institute

Guidelines for companies involved in cobalt supply chains.

Offers specific guidance to improve community engagement and environmental and social assessment and management (ESAM).

Cobalt Refiners should: 

• Comply with host countries’ laws and regulations.

Cobalt Refiners should:

• Communicate with potentially affected parties as soon as possible.
  • Establish regular communication mechanisms.
• Develop effective grievance mechanisms allowing any interested party to voice concerns without fear of retaliation. 
• Strengthen engagement with suppliers. 
• Consider ways to engage effectively with local communities.
  • Establish partnerships with artisanal miners, local communities, governments, civil society organizations (CSOs)/nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), and other stakeholders. 
• Establish company management positions responsible for community participation. 
• Implement community development plans with local stakeholders to promote community development.
  • Create employment and/or livelihood opportunities for local community members. 
• Support local economic development.
  • Provide vocational and skills development training opportunities to local communities. 
• Respect cultural traditions and religious beliefs.
  • Protect the cultural heritage of communities. 

Cobalt Refiners should:

• Conduct social impact assessments (SIAs).
• Set out clear, coherent processes for risk management.
• Conduct due diligence.
  • Hire an independent third party to assess due diligence practices.
  • Assist suppliers in improving their due diligence performance.
• Adopt appropriate mitigation measures in accordance with risk mitigation strategies.
• Disclose information on due diligence by posting updates on companies’ websites or relevant industry associations’ websites on an annual basis at the very least. 
  • Publish information about the risk management system, assessment summary report, and risk assessment and management.