Library of Community Toolkits

This post is also available in: Français (French)

About the Library of Community Toolkits

The first edition of the Library of Community Toolkits was developed in 2013 by Lien De Brouckere in collaboration with Futuro Sostenible in Lima, Peru and Sustainable Development Strategies Group in Colorado, United States, as part of an initiative to develop a protocol and guidance to support community knowledge and decision-making regarding mining activity that affects the community’s lands, livelihoods, and self-determination. That initiative was seeded and fostered through meetings of Simon Fraser University’s Responsible Minerals Sector Initiative’s Global Exploration, Mining and Minerals (GEMM) Dialogue. In 2016, this library was updated and reorganized by Lien De Brouckere with the help of Maria Hajar (LL.M. University of Washington School of Law) and Megha Nkem (LL.M. University of Johannesburg).

Using the Library of Community Toolkits

For users who wish to browse the library’s contents, we have grouped the toolkits and guides together in five categories, which you can click through in the accordion menu. For users looking for guidance on a particular subject, we have a search bar for you to enter keywords that will highlight resources relating to these keywords in the library (for example, “human rights”, “evictions” or “corporate accountability”).

Library of Community Toolkits

Find out about the project

Mining and Communities: Supporting human-rights based development in the context of industrial mining in Guinea (ABA ROLI 2015). Module 1 addresses industrial mining exploitation methods, the project phases, how a company obtains a permit and related regulatory matters.
Exploration and Mining Guide for Aboriginal Communities (Natural Resources Canada 2013)
Mining in Remote Areas: Issues and Impacts – A Community Primer (Fair Mining Collaborative 2013)
Maori and Mining (University of Otago 2013)
Preparing for Resource Extraction: A learning guide for civil society in Afghanistan to support equitable & peaceful resource extraction (Afghanistan Watch 2015)
Central Asia Mining Cartoons (Zoi Environment Network 2012)
Beneath the Surface: Community Mapping and Resistance to Mining (New Media Advocacy Project 2016). Video illustrating community mapping, unity and resistance in Tanchara, Ghana.
Beneath the Surface: Impacts of Mining (New Media Advocacy Project 2016)

Practical Community Guide on Technical Aspects of Oil and Gas (Cordaid 2016)
When Oil or Gas Arrives: Practical Guide on Social Aspects of Oil, Gas and Mining (Cordaid 2016)
Teach Yourself Oil (OpenOil)
Oil and Gas at Your Door: A Landowner’s Guide to Oil and Gas Development (Earthworks 2005)
Community Health & Shale Development Guidebook (RESOLVE 2015)

Dams, Rivers and Rights: An Action Guide for Communities Affected by Dams (International Rivers 2006)
Citizens’ Guide to the World Commission on Dams (International Rivers 2002)

Forest Defender: A Tool for Understanding your Rights (CIEL 2014)
Handbook for Paralegals in Forest Communities in Ghana (CEPIL & IIED 2009)

Mining Contracts: How to Read and Understand Them (Natural Resource Governance Institute 2013)
Model Mine Development Agreement (IBA 2011)
Oil Contracts: How to Read and Understand Them (Open Oil 2012)
Natural Resource Contracts: A Practical Guide (ELAW 2013)
Investigating Illegal Timber: A Guidebooks for activists and communities (Earthsite)
Negotiation Support Portal for Host Country Governments (CCSI). A portal to support host country governments to plan, prepare for, negotiate, monitor and implement complex investment projects.

Following the Money to Justice (Inclusive Development International 2016). A resource to map a project’s investment chain by identifying and analyzing the companies, investors and other actors behind the projects. It also explains how to collect evidence and develop tailored advocacy strategies to hold these actors accountable and defend land, housing and resource rights.
Hands-On Corporate Research Guide (CorpWatch 2001)
Investigating Companies: A Do-It-Yourself Handbook (Corporate Watch 2014)
Aleph (OpenOil). A resource to search corporate filings.

Organize as a community

Community Guide to Free Prior and Informed Consent (Oxfam 2010)
Life Plan – Territories of Life Video Toolkit (LifeMosaic)
Community Protocol Toolbox (Natural Justice 2016).

Mapping for Rights: Putting communities on the map (Rainforest Foundation UK). Participatory mapping manual, video training, technical guides, geo-spatial technologies, Congo Basin.
LandMark Map. Global online mapping platform for indigenous and local community collective land and natural resource rights.
IFAD Adaptive Approach to Participatory Mapping: Design and delivery of participatory mapping projects (IFAD 2010).
Aboriginal Mapping Network (2012). Spatial base data resources (primarily Canada), mapping methods (bioregional, use and occupancy, GIS, GPS), tools and training.

Coming Soon. Please check back in a few days/weeks for updated information.
Coming Soon
ComingSoon
Coming Soon
Coming Soon

Negotiate with the project developer

Guide for Evaluating Mining Project Environmental Impact Assessments (ELAW 2010)
Mining and Communities: Supporting human-rights based development in the context of industrial mining in Guinea (ABA ROLI 2015), Unit 1.3
Handbook for Public Participation in Environmental Impact Assessment (The Access Initiative–Thailand 2014)
Environmental and Social Impact Assessments: A practical guide for Indigenous Peoples in Guyana (North-South Institute 2011)
A One-Stop Participation Guide: A Handbook for Public Participation in Environmental Assessment in Southern Africa (SAIEA 2004)
Organizations providing technical support for communities to participate in EIA processes:
Center for Science in Public Participation (CSP2) Environmental Law Alliance Worldwide (ELAW) Source International E-Tech International

Benefits of Territory – Territories of Life Video Toolkit (LifeMosaic)
African Dams, Rivers and Rights: Community Guide on involuntary resettlement (International Rivers 2016). A resource explaining the International Finance Corporation (IFC) Performance Standard 5 on involuntary resettlement.
Community Guide to ADB Involuntary Resettlement Safeguards (IDI and Bridges Across Borders Cambodia 2011)
Losing Your Home: Assessing the Impact of Eviction (UN-Habitat 2011)
Forced Evictions Assessment Questionnaire (OHCHR 2011)
Handbook on UN Basic Principles and Guidelines on Development-Based Evictions and Displacement (AI HLRN)
Eviction Impact Assessment Tool (HLRN)
Displacement Research & Action Network Resource Library, Tools & Guides (MIT)

IBA Community Toolkit: Negotiation and Implementation of Impact and Benefit Agreements (Walter and Duncan Gordon Foundation 2015)
Company Tactics – Territories of Life Video Toolkit (LifeMosaic)
Mining & Communities: Supporting human rights-based development in the context of industrial mining in Guinea (ABA ROLI 2015), Unit 4.2
Negotiating Impact and Benefit Agreements: A practical guide for Indigenous Peoples in Guyana (North-South Institute 2011)
Community Development Agreements Library (SDSG)
Aboriginal Mining Guide, How to Negotiate Lasting Benefits for Your Community (CCCR 2009)
Handbook on Community Engagement: A ‘good practice’ guide to negotiating lease agreements with landowning communities in South Sudan (South Sudan Law Society 2011)
Community Guide: Getting a Fair Deal from Companies and Investors – Liberia (SDI & Namati 2013)
First Nation’s Experience Negotiating with Mining Companies (Lutsel K’e Dene NSI 2006)

Document and monitor changes

Resources for Community Monitors (Bench Marks Foundation 2012) (including chapters on writing skills, gathering information, analysis, community action, the internet)
Beneath the Surface: Baseline data and environmental monitoring (New Media Advocacy Project 2016)

Contract Monitoring Roadmap (World Bank Institute)
Uganda Contracts Monitoring Coalition, Social and Environmental Compliance Monitoring Tool (Works and Transport Cluster)
Drilling Down: Civil Society Guide to Extractive Industry Revenues and the EITI (RWI 2008)

Getting It Right: Human Rights Impact Assessment Guide (Rights & Democracy)
What is (Human Rights) Monitoring? (HURIDOCS 2003)
Training Manual on Human Rights Monitoring (University of Minnesota)
Free & Equal: Towards respect for the human rights of indigenous peoples of Australia: A Guide for Community Advocates (Oxfam Australia & Diplomacy Training Program 2009)

Women, Communities and Mining: The gender impacts of mining and the role of gender impact assessment (Oxfam Australia 2009)
Gender and Gender Impact Assessment (IAIA)
Info-Activism Toolkit (Women’s Right Campaigning)

Manual on Environmental Health Indicators and Benchmarks (AAAS 2007)
Mining and Health: Community-Centered Health Assessment Toolkit (Canary Institute 2009)
A Community Guide to Environmental Health (Hesperian 2008)
Mercury and Other Toxic Chemicals and Waste: A Cartoon Summary (United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) 2013)

Investigating Participatory Action: preliminary ideas towards the construction of a joint methodology – Colombia (The North-South Institute 2012)
Participatory Planning and Monitoring in the Extractive Industries (Business-Community Synergies)
Participatory Water Monitoring: A Guide for Preventing and Managing Conflict (CAO 2008)

Communications – Territories of Life Video Toolkit (LifeMosaic)
Understanding and Engaging the Media for NGOs (United Nations Association in Canada 2007)
How to Write a Great Press Release (Publicity Insider 2014)
The CAAT Media Guide (Campaign Against Arms Trade)
Video Advocacy Toolkit (WITNESS)
Choosing the right tool

Ensure accountability

Guide to Personal Security for Human Rights Defenders and Activists (Equitable Cambodia)
Safety and Security Guidelines (ACT Alliance 2015)
Digital Security Helpline and Guides (Access Now)			EN AR FA RU
Digital Security for Civil Society Wiki (ie)

Campaigning manual (Amnesty International 1997)
Advocacy for Social Justice (Oxfam 2001)
Advocacy Capacity Building – A Training Toolkit (Conciliation Resources 2011)
Counting Our Victories – Popular Education and Organizing (2001)

System of remedy for business-related human rights abuses (Global Rights 2013)
Using the law – Territories of Life Video Toolkit (LifeMosaic)
Corporate Accountability for Human Rights Abuses: A Guide for Victims and NGOs on Recourse Mechanisms (FIDH 2016)

The Accountability Resource Guide (Accountability Counsel 2015)
Guide to Regional & International Mechanisms (Natural Justice 2014)
Guide to Filing a Complaint with a Grievance Mechanism (SOMO)
Guide to the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises’ Complaint Procedure (OECD Watch 2006)
The Independent Review Mechanism of the African Development Bank (SOMO 2013)
A Community Action Guide to the ADB (International Accountability Project 2013)
Speaking up for Gender: A Step-by-Step Guide to Holding IFIs Accountable (Gender Action)