Resource Diplomacy

Proactive diplomacy on natural resource challenges

Conflicts over natural resource development can be extremely costly for communities, companies, and governments. Our Resource Diplomacy program improves the social, environmental, and development contribution of the natural resource sector through proactive diplomacy.

We help companies, governments, and rights holders design the practical approaches needed for better natural resource agreements and voluntary governance. Our Resource Diplomacy Network brings tools and techniques of diplomacy to complex disputes over natural resource development at all levels—from disputes between communities and companies (including underlying issues of rights and title) to regional, national, or global policy on governance of resource development.

At a community level, the Yanacocha Independent Fact-Finding Mission examined a conflict in northern Peru between a multinational gold mining company and a local campesino family. The RESOLVE-led team objectively established an understanding of the situation and provided an independent and publicly available examination of the mining company’s adherence with the Voluntary Principles on Security and Human Rights in the dispute.

To support the development of regional governance capacity, Sustainable Lithium Production for a Responsible Global Energy Transition (LiFT) is a voluntary partnership with the Cámera Argentina de Empresarios Mineros with the support of the Mining Association of Canada. LiFT catalyzes and accelerates action toward a socially responsible, environmentally sustainable, and innovative battery value chain and optimizes the contribution of sustainable lithium to a responsible global energy transition.

With regard to international policy and norms, the Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC) Solutions Dialogue brings nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), companies, indigenous communities, and independent experts together for candid discussions on the challenges and solutions relevant to implementing FPIC.

The Resource Diplomacy Group is a specialized unit of the program that offers strategic services and insight to boards and senior officials from foundations and donor agencies, NGOs, and companies, including forward-looking analysis and options to help prevent site-based and policy conflicts.