the requisite environmental, social and human rights impact assessments before undertaking any actions, which may have negative implications for the affected people. 65. Also arising from the social and economic impacts of the operations of companies and the nature of the power that they exercise are obligations of companies to contribute to the development needs of the host communities.32 These obligations are legal obligations rather than just matters of social responsibility of companies.33 These obligations in particular include supporting community-based employment and economic diversification to reduce reliance on the extractive industries as the sole source of income, educational, health, agricultural or pastoral development projects, as well as providing access to mine facilities and infrastructure. It also entails an obligation, once the extractive operations have come to an end, to support the transition of affected people to reliance on alternative livelihoods. ••• 40 |  African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights