On the Ground Assessments - Upstream Companies (Step 2.A.4)
About the data
In 2020, the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) launched a project to develop a methodology to evaluate the extent to which companies embrace the OECD Due Diligence Guidance for Responsible Supply Chains of Minerals from Conflict-Affected and High-Risk Areas, including how they align with its core elements, the 5-Step framework and the Annex II Model Policy. This metric belongs to that methodology.
However, upon further review the assessment's focus was narrowed down to a set of core metrics which this metric is not part of. The narrowed down assessment can be found here: https://wikirate.org/OECD_Minerals_Guidance_Research
The OECD Due Diligence Guidance for Responsible Supply Chains of Minerals from Conflict-Affected and High-Risk Areas (OECD Guidance) was developed to provide recommendations to help companies respect human rights and avoid contributing to conflict through their mineral purchasing decisions and practices. The OECD Guidance is for use by any company potentially sourcing minerals or metals from conflict-affected and high-risk areas.
Methodology
Assessments teams' roles will be clearly defined and must include first hand evidence of the conditions of extraction (e.g. militarization of mines), and handling and exports (e.g. illegal taxation).
Third parties are exclusively parties that are not linked to the company. It must be clearly stated that these visits are unannounced.
Local traders and exporters identification includes companies that extract, handle and export minerals. There is no minimum number of identified companies, so as long as one company is identified, this suffices for a check mark.
An evidence-based approach is understood to mean verifiable, reliable and up-to-date. For this category, a company must describe such a system and each of the three other criteria must be included for it to receive a check mark.