With Indonesian nickel mining rapidly growing to meet the demand for critical minerals for the energy transition, Rights CoLab is piloting an effort to improve the sustainability of the sector by piloting an initiative to produce community-driven human rights and environmental due diligence data on Indonesian nickel mining.

Project theory of change: Investors, lenders,downstream buyers and other private sector critical minerals stakeholders can use their leverage to reduce the adverse impacts of the industry, including deforestation, biodiversity loss, insufficient community consultation, labor issues, and indigenous rights violations. Downstream buyers of nickel, particularly electronic vehicle companies, are also under pressure to act due to evolving laws and policies requiring traceability and due diligence action plans in their supply chains. To do so, investors and buyers need comprehensive and timely information from the communities and Indigenous Peoples directly affected by mining operations. We leverage this stakeholder demand for information to improve their effectiveness in addressing Indonesian nickel mining risks and opportunities. 

The product: A regularly updated database of information provided by affected communities, workers and Indigenous Peoples about the quality and scope of rights holder  engagement activities by companies in the Indonesian nickel industry. Based on a survey instrument adapted from Rights CoLab’s Stakeholder Engagement Guide, the database will contain regularly updated, precise information about company-community engagement. The project aims to generate sustained investor and brand demand for this information, with the intention of evolving the database into a subscription-based social enterprise that funds ongoing community monitoring to advance responsible nickel mining and refining in Indonesia.

As part of a multistakeholder approach, Rights CoLab consults with the following Indonesian civil society organizations: 

  • AEER (Action for Ecology and People’s Emancipation)
  • ELSAM (Institute for Policy Research and Advocacy)
  • Institut Mosintuwu
  • Perempuan Mahardhika
  • Satya Bumi
  • WALHI Sulteng (The Indonesian Forum for the Environment – Sulawesi Tengah)

For more information, contact: 

Photo by Paul-Alain Hunt on Unsplash