Oil for development
Background
Oil and gas exploration has been ongoing sporadically in Madagascar for more than 50 years, but rising market demand and results from recent offshore surveys now attract more investors than ever.
As petroleum development has only recently become a serious issue in Madagascar, governance and environment expertise in this sector is still limited. In this light, Norway provides training and advice to public sector administrations through its bilateral Oil for Development program. However, Norway also understands that there is a parallel need to support civil society, and this is the role of the present WWF project.
Government and civil society groups have made considerable efforts to share petroleum development information but this is so far deemed inadequate regarding awareness among the general public and, in particular, among local communities. This outreach to civil society has thus become the main focus of WWF’s Oil for Development program, and is thus highly complementary to the bilateral initiative.
Government and civil society groups have made considerable efforts to share petroleum development information but this is so far deemed inadequate regarding awareness among the general public and, in particular, among local communities. This outreach to civil society has thus become the main focus of WWF’s Oil for Development program, and is thus highly complementary to the bilateral initiative.
Cactus fruits
Objectives and Project description
The overall goal of the Oil for Development initiative is that petroleum development brings benefits to Madagascar, its people and its biodiversity.
The specific project objective is that Malagasy government policy and strategy, together with petroleum industry practices for oil development are strengthened so as fully integrate environmental, biodiversity and societal concerns into petroleum development.
Onshore and offshore oil and gas development initiatives occur widely in Madagascar. However, WWF’s project is in an initial conceptual phase and it thus focuses on one of the most important petroleum exploration areas, the Atsimo Andrefana Region. This area has a unique and vulnerable terrestrial ecosystem and one of the world’s largest coral reef systems, both recently included in priority new terrestrial and marine protected areas. These overlap with, or are close to, petroleum and mining ventures.
One reason that Atsimo Andrefana was targeted is that it has an excellent organizational base for addressing conservation and extractive industries issues. Several NGOs are present and these have long supported local community associations.
There is also a positive history of dialogue between extractive industries, NGOs and communities. The project will build upon this in order to bring net gains from petroleum to all.
One reason that Atsimo Andrefana was targeted is that it has an excellent organizational base for addressing conservation and extractive industries issues. Several NGOs are present and these have long supported local community associations.
There is also a positive history of dialogue between extractive industries, NGOs and communities. The project will build upon this in order to bring net gains from petroleum to all.
Project Data
- Started: September 2007
- Planned end date: December 2012
- Executant: Andry Rabemanantsoa
- Managing Office: WWF Madagascar and West Indian Ocean Programme Office
- Address: WWF Madagascar and West Indian Ocean Programme Office B.P. 738 - Antananarivo 101 Madagascar +261 20 22 348 85
- Status: active
Contact
-
Andry Rabemanantsoa
Oil & Gas Programme Officer
WWF Madagascar and West Indian Ocean Programme Office,
Antananarivo+261 20 22 304 20
Achievements
WWF has begun to discuss ways to ensure collaboration with the bilateral Oil for Development program that involves the ministries respectively
responsible for extractive industries, environment and budget. They encourage WWF to support civil society engagement in oil development.
WWF is a member of the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI), helping to develop workplans and promoting civil society monitoring of the industry. WWF has also worked to cultivate partnerships with a range of governmental, NGO and civil society groups with an aim to strengthen understanding of oil development and how to address issues as they arise. WWF has also developed an independent assessment poll to track public opinion regarding the oil sector.
WWF has prepared a publicly available preliminary status report on oil development together with societal and environmental issues.
In Atsimo Andrefana, there is now a coalition collaborating on oil, societal and environmental issues. In particular, the coalition is developing approaches to promote community participation in observing and monitoring oil development.
WWF has prepared a publicly available preliminary status report on oil development together with societal and environmental issues.
In Atsimo Andrefana, there is now a coalition collaborating on oil, societal and environmental issues. In particular, the coalition is developing approaches to promote community participation in observing and monitoring oil development.
Onilahy River landscape
Challenges
The main challenges are:
- Ensuring that all interested parties can access and understand information on oil development in Madagascar.
- Ensuring that partnerships with and between civil society organizations and local community groups flourish, and that the latter are able to clearly express their concerns and aspirations.
- Ensuring that various entities contribute pertinent research and assessments that will help civil society and conservation NGOs defend their interests, especially with respect to safeguarding natural resources and the development of the Madagascar Protected Areas System (SAPM).
- Building durable capacity to address oil issues within the National Parks Service, conservation NGOs and civil society groups.
- Establishing durable and effective partnerships to defend and promote conservation and societal interests with respect to oil development.
- Positively infl uencing key decision-makers involved in oil development and biodiversity conservation.