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Social performance
We operate under a commitment to respecting the rights of our communities and the environment
However, we are also aware that our activities can cause disturbances to our communities and the environment. That is why we actively work to prevent risks and mitigate impacts through processes and standards that guide our social initiatives and how we engage with people, communities, and society at large.
However, we are also aware that our activities can cause disturbances to our communities and the environment. That is why we actively work to prevent risks and mitigate impacts through processes and standards that guide our social initiatives and how we engage with people, communities, and society at large.
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Principles guiding our relationships:
Transparency
Active Listening
Social Participation
Engagement
Improve Social Development
Diversity and Inclusion
Adherence to international best practices
Act with adherence to the UN’s Guiding Principles for Businesses and Human Rights;
Act with adherence to the Sustainable Development Goals, their targets and indicators.
Operational Responsibility
Social performance framework
Respect for Human Rights is at the core. It extends to all of our activities as a non-negotiable condition that requires every employee and contractor to be vigilant in order to prevent human rights violations.
Our relationships with communities and other stakeholders are the means by which we build respect and trust. It is through our engagement with individuals, groups, and institutions that we manage the potential positive and negative impacts of our operations, share our practices, and learn how to become a better company each day, making us a partner in the development of the territories where we operate.
We aim to go beyond bare minimum requirements and risk and impact management to enhance our contribution to territorial development.
Our social performance framework calls for company-wide engagement around reducing communities’ exposure to risks and mitigating the impacts of our activities.
We have dedicated Community Relations (CR) teams tasked with facilitating interaction with communities. Learn more in Local communities.
Targets and commitments
Targets for the coming years:
By 2026, develop Engagement Plans for 100% of priority communities;
By 2030, lift 500,000 people out of extreme poverty (learn more here);
By 2030, all Indigenous Communities neighboring our operations to have plans in place to secure the rights outlined in the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
By 2030, improve our position for social performance in major external assessments.
Governance and risk management
All risks within Vale are assessed from the perspective of social and human rights. We adhere to methodologies, standards, and systems that are in line with Vale's risk management process and industry best practices.
Applying these tools aids in identifying, assessing, managing, and monitoring risks. The most common risks in our industry include those related to community safety, conflicts arising from involuntary resettlement and land use, disturbances to local communities (primarily related to noise, dust, and vibration), disputes over natural resources, and impacts to roads and highways. More information about Vale's risk management process can be found here.
Related policies
Fighting extreme poverty
As part of our social ambition and targets for 2030, we have included a goal to help lift 500,000 people from extreme poverty. This commitment aligns with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), a global call by the United Nations to end poverty, protect the planet, and ensure that by 2030, all people enjoy peace and prosperity.
SDG 1 calls for ending poverty in all its forms, “leaving no one behind.” It explicitly recognizes that economic development does not automatically translate into access to essential rights and services for all. We acknowledge that even within robust social programs aimed at universalizing essential rights, certain social groups — such as black individuals, women, indigenous communities, people with disabilities, LGBTQIA+ individuals, among others — face challenges in inclusion and accessing opportunities.
Methodologically, we have adopted a concept of poverty as a multidimensional phenomenon and an approach based on Multidimensional Family Support (AFM) spanning five dimensions: education, income, health, nutrition, and infrastructure. The focus of our approach is on families. We provide support and referrals to existing public and corporate social programs in each locality based on the specific impacts on people’s everyday life and the different levels of deprivation in urban, rural, and forest settings.
We are currently piloting the new methodology in the states of Pará, Maranhão, Amazonas, and Rio de Janeiro. By the end of 2023, approximately 30,000 people have been reached by our programs. These pilot tests are an essential step to deepen our strategic vision and further refine our methodology.
Learn more about our Engagement with Communities
Learn more about our Impact Management