Reflections on the opportunities for mining companies to contribute to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals in sub - Saharan Africa

The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) set targets for all nations in the most important areas of human development, as well as environmental protection and climate change for the period 2015-2030. This viewpoint discusses how mining companies can contribute to the implementation of SDGs through developing region-specific approaches to sustainable development. It argues that investment and cross-sector collaboration for the provision of collective goods such as health, education and infrastructure should be the main focus of the sustainable development policies of the mining companies operating in developing countries. We believe that academics and practitioners could further develop indicators to measure the progress of industry towards the SDGs and devise innovative solutions that link these to mining sector operations. Further research into mineral production at the national level can extend the understanding about the implications of sustainable development for mineral commodities, mines and mineral enterprises.