Skills Registration is a tool that can be used to compile an inventory of the skills of the people living in the vicinity of a greenfields project. This knowledge, especially when obtained ahead of employment, is of value to developers who seek to employ locally as well as develop the capacity of local people.
SRK included a Skills Registration process as part of an Environmental and Social Impact Assessment for a new mine in Botswana. The survey was supported by a questionnaire designed to establish the educational qualifications and work experience of locals. People were invited to participate in the survey by way of advertisements in the local newspaper. The community members were required to provide their identity documents and certified copies of formal education qualifications and a trained facilitator was available to assist them in completing the forms where necessary. The initial period of a week was extended to allow for the high numbers of people who came to register from the four local villages and nearby urban area. SRK captured the survey data in a database and provided this to the developer in support of labour planning.
Communication around the registration process must be well managed to ensure that expectations of employment and capacity development are matched with those of the intentions of the developer. Like any other type of research, the results depend on the survey design and delivery.
