Update on the Governance Model
The Consolidated Mining Standard Initiative (CMSI) Partners’ commitment to transparency and inclusivity remains central to the Initiative process, and we are sharing this update to keep all interested parties informed of the next steps in the governance process.
We are grateful to have received valuable feedback on the draft Governance Model during the first public consultation held between 16 October and 16 December 2024. Feedback was received from a wide variety of stakeholders and rights-holders including civil society, international NGOs, labour, mining companies, downstream customers, Indigenous Peoples, academia and beyond. In acknowledgement of these contributions, the CMSI Partners invited all stakeholders and rights-holders who submitted written comments on the draft Governance Model during the public consultation to participate in online webinar briefings which took place on 8 & 9 July. The webinars were scheduled across multiple time zones to ensure broad accessibility.
Through the webinars, the Partners shared the evolution of the Governance Model, highlighting how the feedback received in the first public consultation and extensive discussions with our Advisory Groups have shaped the Governance Model. The webinars also provided stakeholders and rights-holders the opportunity to directly ask the Partners questions and share any reflections.
Finalisation of the Governance Model
Through this process, we have been guided by a set of Governance Principles that were agreed between the four Partners and the Stakeholder and Industry Advisory Groups. Beyond these initially agreed Governance Principles, the Stakeholder and Industry Advisory Groups have emphasised the need for diversity criteria to be considered in the appointment of members of the Board and any associated committees.
The CMSI Partners intend to publish the Governance Model in due course, along with a report outlining the response to consultation feedback on governance. An open call for Board applications will follow the publication of the Governance Model in due course.
The Standard, assurance process and claims policy will be shared for a second round of public consultation in late 2025, guided by ISEAL’s Code of Good Practice.
Further consultation
While we recognise that some stakeholders and rights-holders have called for further consultation in respect of the Governance Model, most elements of the draft Governance Model received broad support in the first public consultation. Key area of concern that emerged during the first publication were the composition of the Board and the nomination process. Following the public consultation, changes have been made to respond to these concerns, including redefining stakeholder groups to ensure equal participation of individuals from stakeholder and rights-holders’ groups and companies across the mining industry and wider value chain. There is also increased independence in the selection of the Board Chair. The process to appoint stakeholders to the Board has also been more clearly articulated, including a commitment to an open call for nominations.
Due to the changes that have already been made to the model since the public consultation, the Partners see substantial benefits in the establishment of the independent, multi-stakeholder Board as soon as possible. By beginning the establishment process prior to the second public consultation, the Board will have meaningful input into the finalisation of the Standard, assurance process and claims policy and will be solely responsible for their approval, expediting the transition to multi-stakeholder oversight.
The decision to not consult on governance has been carefully considered, with due consideration of both the benefits to consultation and the risks to delaying the establishment of the Board.
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