Member Organizations

We are also joined in our workshops by: DFAIT, NRCan, CIDA, and EDC.

Members' Portal: http://devonshireinitiative.wiggio.com

Benefits

For international development NGOs:

1. Evidence that working with the private sector positively impacts our constituent communities on the ground;
2. Access to best practices, lessons learned, and a community of common interest;
3. Opportunity to influence the thinking and practice of very significant private sector development actors; and,
4. Understand risks associated with a multi-stakeholder approach to mining and development and share strategies with other NGOs.

For the mining industry:

1. A space for dialogue with relevant actors to raise awareness of best practices in responsible community investment and development;
2. Opportunities for cross-sector partnerships with NGOs in order to improve the outcomes of community development initiatives. Even with all the existing guidelines, structures, procedures, and consultants on the ground, challenges continue to arise that are best managed through the multistakeholder processes;
3. Enhancing the contribution made by the mining sector to broad-based socio-economic development, both at the macro (national) and micro (site) levels; and,
4. Changing the way industry is viewed; raising awareness of the work it currently does, and addressing myths with a core group of stakeholders.

For government and multilateral institutions:

1. Access to leading thinkers and practitioners on CSR and multistakeholder partnering;
2. Opportunity to sound out needs, priorities, and policy in a constructive, established, and proven environment;
3. The DI is ready, willing, and able to assist in implementing CSR and public-private partnership strategies; and,
4. Opportunity to invest in a proven process that would catapult Canada as a leader on CSR and public-private partnerships.

Criteria

Members

Mining industry members will:

• have operations or exploration projects in developing countries;
• have staff whose responsibilities include sustainability and/or CSR;
• be committed to working on three main issues identified by extractive companies working overseas as priorities:
  1. community engagement, investment, and development
  2. human rights
  3. environment
• contribute $10,000 annually toward the DI’s operating expenses.

INGO members will:

• have “on-the-ground” operations in developing countries in the area of sustainable community development;
• be open-minded and posses the spirit for cross-sector partnering;
• provide leadership in finding new approaches and solutions to development problems;
• provide in-kind contributions to the DI where feasible.

Both industry and INGO members will:

• have the capacity to operationalize the goals of the DI ;
• collaborate based on the principles of transparency, accountability, mutual benefit, and sustainability;
• commit to respect each other’s contribution towards the objectives of the DI;
• commit to regular and consistent senior-level participation;
• share successful experiences and lessons learned for mutual capacity building and knowledge management
• explore, develop, and test innovative partnerships; and,
• adhere to Chatham House Rules and commit to respecting the confidentiality of others.

Active Observers

“Active Observers” (AO) is the status given to participants in the DI from government (e.g. DFAIT, NRCan, CIDA), other organizations, and individuals that have an interest in the work of the DI and are able to contribute to its objectives.

AO’s cannot serve on the Steering Committee.

Active Observers will:

• be active players in the CSR, cross sector partnering, and/or development fields;
• have a strong reputation for accountability, transparency, and ethical performance;
• adhere to Chatham House Rules and commit to respecting the confidentiality of others;
• designate a senior level decision maker, preferably at the Director level, and make a commitment to regular participation; and,
• be approved for membership in the DI by the Steering Committee.

Process for Joining

There is no one-size-fits-all formula to joining the DI. As a general rule, the DI follows this process for admitting new members:

1. Interested organizations may be invited to participate in a DI event. These events are typically workshops hosted by the DI. Participating at a DI event allows the prospective member to witness the core activities of the DI. It also gives the DI membership an opportunity to become better acquainted with the prospective organization.
   
   
2. The interested organization may indicate its desire to explore membership with the DI or the Director of the DI may invite the prospective organization to apply for membership. In either case, the interested organization will be asked to submit in writing a summary of:
   1. why the organization is interested in participating in the DI;
   2. how it believes that it meets the criteria for membership;
   3. who will be the focal person and representative to the DI; and,
   4. what unique contributions the organization will make in support of the DI. For example, the organization might share particular case studies or experiences that demonstrate its capacity to contribute to the DI’s agenda.
      
      
3. On behalf of the membership, the Steering Committee will assess all potential new members. This assessment ensures that the membership remains balanced and in line with the founding principles and vision of the DI.
   
   
4. The DI will extend an offer of membership. In return, the new member will be asked to commit in writing to demonstrating their dedication to the membership principles and requirements. This commitment lasts for an initial period of two years.

Contact the Executive Director of the DI to learn more about becoming a member.