Date: August 2, 2024
Time: 3:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Venue: Zoom Platform (Register now)

Background

In a report on Africa’s mining regimes, the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) points out that mineral resources are not being exploited to the great benefit of African economies. Local communities and states are not benefiting optimally, as evidenced by the continent’s poverty and severe infrastructure deficit (1). Although Africa’s subsoil is rich in mineral, gas, and oil resources, their management is not yet conducive to the continent’s socio-economic development (2). In Central Africa, in particular, the challenges are manifold: corruption, elite capture of revenues, socio-environmental impacts, and low local returns (3). In order to reverse this trend, the African Union (AU) has adopted several instruments that constitute a framework for equitable and optimal governance of natural resources with a view to sustainable growth and socio-economic development. This framework aims to put in place strong institutions to improve transparency and accountability in the management of natural resources so that the benefits accrue more to local populations. Of course, natural resource governance in Central Africa addresses a number of crucial issues involving economic, political, social, and environmental aspects (4). But to meet these challenges, local communities and civil society in general must have a say in a participatory approach to natural resource management. What role can civil society play in the governance of natural resources so that their exploitation contributes to the structural transformation of the economies of this sub-region? To answer these questions, the Nkafu Policy Institute, a think tank of the Denis and Lenora Foretia Foundation, is organizing a training on The Governance of Natural Resources in Central Africa: Does Community Involvement Matter? » 

Objective

The general objective of this webinar is to analyze the state of participatory governance of natural resources in Central Africa. The focus will be on the contribution of community stakeholders to the governance of these resources in the region. Specifically, it will focus on:

• Strengthen community and civil society organizations’ understanding of natural resource governance issues in Central Africa;
• Promote consultation and inclusion of local communities in decision-making;
• Advocate for a more equitable distribution of revenues from these resources;
• Formulate recommendations to strengthen transparency and accountability in natural resource management;

Expected Outcomes:

• Better understanding of natural resource governance in central Africa by stakeholders.
• Increased awareness of the role of the community in the governance of natural resources.

Target Audience

The event targets participants from various fields of expertise and will enable them to build new relationships and strengthen existing ones. Participants include politicians, decision-makers, think tank leaders, humanitarian organizations, non-governmental organizations, academics and researchers, students, and civil society actors.

Contact

Email: [email protected] / Tel: (+237) 654 86 72 54.