Community Engagement
We understand the social dynamics from all stakeholder perspectives and help to bridge the gap between stakeholders including corporates, municipalities, and communities, building stronger relationships and reducing conflict.
Community
Stakeholders (people or groups) with
common geography or interests
Engagement
Including Stakeholders in processes and
supporting meaningful contribution
What is Social Survey's approach to community engagement?
SSA believes that community engagement works best when it is an ongoing cumulative process that enables relationships and trust to build and strengthen over time. Our approach to community engagement considers what role communities affected by the issue under study should play in the research process itself.
This approach tends to:
- Increase the likelihood that solutions will be widely accepted. Communities who participate in these processes show significant commitment to help make the projects happen.
- Create more effective solutions. Drawing on local knowledge from a diverse group creates solutions that are practical and effective.
- Improve communities' knowledge and skills in problem solving. Through the process participants gain a depth of insight and learn about the issues. Greater knowledge allows them to see multiple sides of the problem.
- Empower and integrate people from different backgrounds. Groups that feel ignored can gain greater control over their lives and their community. When people from different areas of the community work together, they often find that they have much in common.
- Create local networks of community members. The more people who know what is going on and who are willing to work toward a goal, the more likely a community is to be successful in reaching its goals.
- Create several opportunities for discussing concerns. Regular, on-going discussions allow people to express concerns before problems become too big or out of control.
- Increase trust in community organisations and governance. Working together improves communication and understanding. Knowing what government, community citizens and leaders, and organisations can and cannot do may reduce future conflict.
Who can benefit from this?
Companies needing to better understand the nature of their doorstep communities, as well as the issues that affect them to increase their social license to operate and develop community sensitive SLPs and Social Impact Assessments.
Municipalities and government agencies operating in mining areas needing insights into the social footprint of mining and the implications for social development and service provision.
Civil society organisations working with and in near-mining communities seeking to understand the needs and impacts of social investments in this complex environment.
How can I access this?
Social Surveys Africa offers bespoke strategy and research services. For more information, contact info@socialsurveys.co.za or call 011 486 1025.