Key steps in SEAT
SEAT helps managers analyse their operation’s sphere of influence and impacts, and provides a framework for formulating management responses and reporting back to stakeholders.
The SEAT process is divided into seven steps, with each step supported by a number of tools.
- Profile the Anglo American operation and the host community
- Engage with stakeholders
- Assess and prioritise impacts and issues
- Improve social performance management – how we interact with our stakeholders
- Deliver enhanced socio-economic benefits to host communities
- Develop a social management plan
- Prepare a SEAT report and feedback to stakeholders
Each of our operations runs a new SEAT assessment every three years.
SEAT plays a central role in our programmes to meet the requirements of the International Council on Mining and Metals (ICMM) sustainability principle 9 (i.e. to contribute to the social, economic and institutional development of the communities in which the Company operates).
All senior and site-based personnel who are responsible for community relations are trained in the use of the SEAT process.
Third party plaudits
A number of external organisations have provided positive feedback on SEAT:
Business for Social Responsibility (BSR)
Leading American NGO Business for Social Responsibility (BSR) found SEAT to be "an international best practice". BSR chief executive Aron Cramer noted: "SEAT helps Anglo American's operations to achieve their social licence to operate consistent with the expectations of stakeholders and broader society. It is underpinned by Anglo American's decades of experience operating in and contributing to emerging economies throughout Africa, Eastern Europe and Latin and South America.
"The toolkit represents one of the most significant corporate investments we know of to equip personnel to better understand, plan, implement and account for the social and economic performance at the local operations level."
Cambridge University's Judge Business School
Academics at Cambridge University's Judge Business School noted that SEAT "is revolutionising Anglo American's relationship with its operations' neighbouring communities..."
UK Charity Aid Foundation
The UK Charity Aid Foundation described SEAT as "both innovative, positioning stakeholder engagement at its central core, and replicable".
International Association for Impact Assessment (IAIA)
In recognition of SEAT and our contribution to responsible practice in community engagement and development, we were awarded the IAIA's 2012 Corporate Initiative Award. Stephen Lintner, IAIA president, commented: “The IAIA Board of Directors selected SEAT as the recipient of this new award because we believe Anglo American has made a unique attempt to incorporate impact assessment into the way it manages its operations on a day-to-day basis. We also wanted to recognise the fact that Anglo American is sharing its knowledge and experience in impact assessment by making SEAT available to the public.”