Evolving Models of Community Engagement in Peru´s mining sector

Recent academic research has emphasized the need for more adaptive and culturally grounded models of community engagement in Peru’s mining sector, moving beyond transactional approaches to truly earn and sustain a Social License to Operate (SLO). Traditional models, which often rely on corporate social responsibility (CSR) programs offering short-term benefits—such as schools, clinics, or direct payments—are increasingly seen as insufficient in regions marked by historical grievances, socio-environmental conflicts, and weak institutional trust. Scholars now argue that SLO must be reframed not as a “contract” or a checklist of deliverables, but as a relational process, where dialogue, transparency, and long-term accountability are central to building legitimacy.