Research study on policy framework legal rights of the community in the context of exploitation UPCT (the Provincial Farmers Union of Tete) is an organization representing farmers in the smallholder sector in Tete. The UPCT has been working with the Peasants members in the province of Tete in 11 districts, with institutional and organizational support programs as well as the promotion of sustainable community dialogue in the framework of mining programs in the province.

In the development of its programs, in particular regarding the protection of Human Rights and Socio-Economic Justice, CAFOD and UPCT developed a project to empowering communities, especially farmers, affected by the developments of the activities of the mining industry in the province Tete, particularly in Changara and Cahora Bassa.

The project is co-funded by the European Commission and CAFOD, having been designed to meet the objective of improving the understanding, involvement and informed dialogue around the legal and social responsibilities between the affected communities, the mining companies and the Government, in Tete Province Mozambique .

In pursuit of this objective UPCT and CAFOD defined three main strategic lines and a set of outcomes stated in the project document as described below:

Strategic line 1: Production of evidence based information through PAR focused on the impacts of mining on communities, the legal and social responsibility of mining companies and the process of resettlement. Through the production of evidence based information using a participatory methodology (SL1), it is envisaged that affected communities and local civil society organisations will have access to clear evidence based information which will increase their understanding and their knowledge regarding their rights related to resettlement processes and the relevant legal frameworks and company CSR frameworks (Result 1). This information will benefit both communities who have been resettled and communities who are to be resettled. Using a participatory methodology will ensure that beneficiaries and direct participants in the research will appropriate the knowledge, research skills and information produced and will be able to use this more effectively in order to engage in dialogue with companies and government officials (Result 3).

Strategic Line 2: Strengthening the capacity of communities to defend their rights and negotiate effectively in resettlement processes; The project utilises the evidence based information produced in SL1 to inform the development of appropriate training tools that will increase the ability of affected communities to engage in informed dialogue with companies and participate effectively in public consultation and negotiation processes (Result 2). The evidence based information collected by the research will contribute to the development of a specific capacity building approach with communities (SL2). This toolkit will touch on negotiation skills, conflict resolution skills, how to document and illustrate issues and needs, and where to direct the advocacy or dialogue. 

Strategic Line 3: Sharing of information and dialogue, with companies regarding their social and legal responsibilities to the wellbeing of communities and their obligations to contribute to local sustainable development: Once communities and CSOs have appropriated the information developed as part of the research phase and undertaken the accompanying capacity building, it is envisaged that CSOs and key community members (focal points) will be able to dialogue more effectively with companies and company representatives through existing spaces and through taking a proactive approach (SL3) in order to ensure that companies have access to information about community expectations, rights and needs and their legal and social obligations(Result 3).  

Within each strategic line, a number of activities will contribute to ensuring the achievement of the aforementioned results as set out below. A 4th cross cutting line of work which involves all aspects related to the management, implementation and monitoring of the project is also included.

In following with the production of evidence based information through PAR focused on the impacts of mining on communities, the legal and social responsibility of mining companies and the process of resettlement UPCT and CAFOD hired a consulting service of Help Age International to carry out a study that focused on the perceptions of communities about their involvement in the development of, and the challenges imposed upon them by, the extractive industry. With the completion of the study, there arose a set of concerns of communities whose analysis raises the need to seek more evidences from the legal and political framework level, on the one hand contrast with the information of the study by Help Age International, facilitating better understanding the on-going dynamics and, on the other hand strengthen their evidence base for implementation of project activities.