About Workshop

About the Workshop

Oil, gas and mining are major contributors to GDP, taxes, exports and jobs and can be a driver of sustainable development. Yet, in many cases, development of extractive industries has not been associated with successful national or local community development. In some cases, communities have been further disadvantaged as a result of oil, gas and mining projects. Increasingly, oil, gas and mining companies together with local governments, local and international NGOs, the international donor community and multi-lateral financial institutions are working side-by-side to enhance the contribution extractive industries make to sustainable development at the community level. There is growing recognition that engaging, empowering and building the capacity of local communities is critical not only for the success of investments in extractive industries but also for sustainable development beyond the life of the well, pipeline and mine.

CommDev (Oil, Gas and Mining Sustainable Community Development Fund) and its partners (IFC, the World Bank, MIGA and WBI) organized a one-day workshop to share experiences, conduct training and raise awareness of the community development work being implemented in communities impacted by extractive industries. The focus was on sharing practical examples of helping communities benefit from extractive industry, highlighting the diversity of activities that are achieving results, and discussing successes and lessons. The topics covered included capacity building for stakeholders, community foundations, SME development and increasing local content in supply chains, sustainability and the environment, gender and HIV-AIDS issues related to extractive industries, capacity building to improve local and regional governance, and the role that local and international NGOs can play in contributing to sustainable community development.