Prépublications

The expansion of industrial gold mining in Burkina Faso has generated significant economic contributions while simultaneously producing profound human rights challenges for affected communities. This study examines the application of a human rights-based approach to Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) in Burkina Faso's mining sector, analyzing the normative framework and identifying strategies for strengthening community rights and corporate accountability. Drawing on a qualitative methodology that synthesizes policy documents, company reports, civil society investigations, and academic analyses, the research reveals that while Burkina Faso possesses a robust legal framework—including the 2015 Mining Code's Local Mining Development Fund (FMDL) and international human rights commitments—implementation gaps persist. The study analyzes the contested implementation of the FMDL as emblematic of tensions between voluntary CSR and legal obligations. Companies have lobbied against the 1% turnover contribution while simultaneously using CSR to maintain their "social license to operate" and resist more demanding regulatory obligations. Canadian aid partnerships, while promoting resource decentralization, have been critiqued as "social engineering" projects that secure community consent rather than empowering rights-holders. The findings indicate that strengthening community rights requires moving beyond philanthropic CSR toward a human rights-based approach grounded in the principles of participation, accountability, non-discrimination, and empowerment. This entails legal and policy reforms, capacity building for communities and local authorities, enhanced corporate due diligence, and independent monitoring mechanisms.