Development Of Host Communities Research Articles

EFFECTIVE STAKEHOLDER RELATIONSHIP MANAGEMENT IN THE OIL & GAS SECTOR: A CONCEPTUAL AND REVIEW PERSPECTIVE

Effective stakeholder relationship management (SRM) is imperative for the sustainable operation of companies within the oil and gas sector. This review provides a conceptual framework and review perspective on the strategies, challenges, and outcomes associated with SRM in this industry. The oil and gas sector operates within a complex web of stakeholders including governments, local communities, investors, employees, suppliers, and environmental organizations. Building and maintaining positive relationships with these stakeholders are essential for securing operational licenses, maintaining social license to operate, and fostering a conducive environment for business continuity. Drawing from existing literature, this review elucidates the key components of effective SRM in the oil and gas sector. Firstly, proactive engagement and communication emerge as fundamental strategies. Companies need to identify stakeholders, understand their interests and concerns, and engage with them transparently and consistently throughout project lifecycles. Secondly, fostering mutual value creation is crucial. Companies must seek win-win solutions that align their business objectives with stakeholders’ interests, thereby promoting long-term partnerships and trust. Thirdly, robust grievance mechanisms are necessary to address conflicts and grievances promptly and fairly, preventing escalation into legal or reputational crises. Despite its importance, SRM in the oil and gas sector faces several challenges. These include inherent power imbalances between companies and stakeholders, socio-political tensions in resource-rich regions, and the dynamic nature of stakeholder expectations. Additionally, the sector operates in a volatile market environment characterized by fluctuating oil prices and regulatory uncertainties, further complicating SRM efforts. The outcomes of effective SRM in the oil and gas sector are multifaceted. Beyond mitigating operational risks and enhancing reputational capital, it contributes to fostering social license to operate, facilitating access to capital and talent, and promoting sustainable development in host communities. Effective SRM in the oil and gas sector requires a proactive, value-driven, and adaptive approach. By integrating stakeholder considerations into strategic decision-making processes, companies can navigate complex socio-political landscapes, mitigate risks, and create shared value for all stakeholders involved.
 Keywords: Management, Oil and Gas, Conceptual, Perspective, Relationship.

Corporate Social Responsibility: Is It Corporate Philanthropy or Hypocrisy?

This paper examines the attitude of mega corporations towards its fulfilment of corporate social responsibilities to host communities in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria. It specifically examines the philanthropic and hypocritical dispositions of these firms. A review of literature and industry practice found stakeholders gross nonchalance in the implementation of corporate social responsibilities in host communities. In particular, the study found firms unwillingness to take advantage of the provision of social responsibility expenditure as allowable deductible tax allowance in Nigeria’s tax laws. Finally, the study found government culpable of negligence in the development of host communities. Contingent upon the developmental effects of corporate social responsibilities activities, this paper recommends that it is expedient for all stakeholders to have a rethink about the attitude of mega corporations towards its corporate social responsibilities with the intent of actualising their developmental roles in the host communities.

‘Self-reliant’ Refugees as ‘Development Actors’: Dignity or Disavowal of Responsibility? The Case of Eritrean Refugees in Ethiopia

In this article which is based on anthropological fieldworks among Eritrean refugees in Hitsats and Adi Harush camps in North-Ethiopia and out of camp in the capital city Addis Ababa between 2019 and 2022, I report on how the new Ethiopian policy/law environment for refugee response has affected access to formal employment and own business licenses for this third largest refugee group in the country. This policy/law change in Ethiopia was linked to the New York Declaration on Refugees and Migrants and the Comprehensive Refugee Response Framework (CRRF) it included, which marked a global shift in handling protracted displacement. A move from refugees’ dependency on humanitarian aid to dignified self-reliance through economic inclusion, which in turn would contribute to development in host communities, was envisioned. Ethiopia followed up with ‘Nine Pledges’ that went far in promising economic inclusion for refugees. The revision of the country’s refugee proclamation sought to provide the juridical backing for this new refugee response which, initially, seemed to secure their right to work. However, my findings show that access to formal employment and business licenses is still denied refugees unless they are selected for a joint national-international project with external funding. I therefore argue that, rather than securing self-reliance and with it, refugees’ contribution to development, this new policy/law environment for refugee response in Ethiopia represents – in line with neoliberal governmentality – a disavowal of responsibility for their livelihoods. This study thus counters the general opinion that the law/policy shift in Ethiopia was ‘progressive’.

Social Corporate Responsibility of Champion Breweries and Socio-economic Development in Host Communities in Akwa Ibom State (2015-2022): A Critical Appraisal

As organizations seek to expand their patronage for profit-making, they develop different strategies to establish equilibrium with the host communities. One such strategy is Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) which has been ingrained in the organizational culture of Champion Breweries, Akwa Ibom State. However, some of the approaches of CSR have not matched the intrinsic essentials of socio-economic development, which is why the paper is aimed at examining the CSR of Champions Breweries to the host communities. The Stakeholder’s Theory was adopted for the study. The qualitative method represented through the descriptive research design was used for the study. Data were also obtained through the interview method. It was discovered that Champion Breweries have contributed to socioeconomic development in the host communities through donations for power supply, provision of annual scholarships to at least 10 indigenes of the host communities, and sponsoring free medical services. However, it was observed that these contributions were majorly presented in monetary forms through donations to certain institutions and projects, without concrete supervision on their uses and effects. It was recommended that Champions Breweries should not only focus on the monetary aspect of CSR but also include services, infrastructures and skill-based programmes in its CSR package.

Costs and Benefits of Energy and Major Natural Resources Extractive Industrial Operations on Communities: Spotlight on Host Communities Development Regime in Nigeria’s Petroleum Industry Act, 2021

Landmark studies and follow-up scholarly researches, as well as practical evidences around the globe on energy and major natural resources extractive industrial operations (EIOs), such as petroleum (oil and gas) and other mining and mineral resources EIOs, are consistently demonstrating that EIOs inhibit sustainable development (SD). Conversely, the findings of such foremost scholarly studies and their follow-up measures, as well as practical evidences regarding energy and major natural resources EIOs around the globe, are revealing that these operations may contribute to SD. In other words, EIOs may contribute to SD when they are implemented well, in conformity with international benchmarked standards and practices. In that case, EIOs are advantageous in the nooks and crannies of the world, when they are executed in a way that occasions socio-economic advancement in host countries, including resource-rich areas of such countries. In the circumstances, EIOs may be considered to have been implemented in ways that preserve the rights of members of the public, especially those that are adversely affected directly by extractive industrial projects, such as those of resource-rich communities, and when the benefits derived from these projects are directed towards overall public good in host countries. On this note, EIOs may contribute to SD in developing countries, through good environmental governance, towards generic good governance and overall public good. Considering the foregoing negative impacts and possible positive contributions of EIOs, this study will explore the costs and benefits of petroleum EIOs on the resource-rich and other direct negatively impacted host communities of Nigeria, in the framework of the country’s Petroleum Industry Act, 2021, concerning the development of host communities, and thereby arrive at appropriate findings.

Understanding residents' empowerment and community attachment in festival tourism: The case of Victoria Falls

This study investigated the effects of residents' empowerment, community attachment, wellbeing, and economic benefits on their support of festivals. A sample of 510 residents of Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe, was used for data collection. The study proposes an empirical model to investigate the impacts of residents' empowerment on their support for festivals and the mediation of the link by community attachment and residents' wellbeing. The results from the structural equation model support all but one hypothesis. Specifically, residents' empowerment fosters wellbeing, community attachment, and support for festivals. Residents' wellbeing mediates these relationships, and economic benefits moderate the mediated model. These findings highlight the importance of psychologically, sociologically, environmentally, and politically empowering the residents in festival host communities. Festival planners, governments, and local authorities are encouraged to communicate the positive effects of the festivals and help to empower the communities to ensure residents' full support. Additionally, they ought to ensure that residents are fully aware of the power they hold and able to use it to their advantage to encourage support for festival development in host communities. • The study proposed an empirical model that investigated the impact of residents' empowerment on support for festivals. • Residents' empowerment triggers attachment, wellbeing and support for festival development. • Residents' wellbeing represents a vital tool for destination managers to drive support for destination development.

Rural University Education for Sustainable Development in South Africa: A Review

University education is envisaged to contribute to and enhance sustainable development in society. Hence there is a desire for quality and effectiveness in the tertiary education system for which huge amounts of money are budgeted annually. However, the quality and effectiveness of rural university education with regard to aiding sustainable development in host communities tends to be questionable. This study explored the relevance of rural university education toward enhancing sustainable development in Africa, using the context of South Africa. A review method was adopted for this study. Relevant literature was reviewed and analysed using themes. The findings of the study show that while rural universities are capable of promoting sustainable development, those in South Africa and by extension developing and underdeveloped nations are hindered by various challenges such as lack of career guidance, globalisation of the curriculum, and poor academic literacy, among others. The challenges render students incompetent in their chosen professions, consequently affecting their ability to give back to society. The study recommends that rural universities should be designed and positioned for glocalisation first. Also, adequate support for rural universities must be made available to enable them to contribute toward sustainable development.

Development of a Scale to Measure Intrapersonal Psychological Empowerment to Participate in Local Tourism Development: Applying the Sociopolitical Control Scale Construct to Tourism (SPCS-T)

Future tourism development must be guided by thoughtful and effective policies that represent the interests of a majority of community members to maximize the positive and minimize the negative impact on communities. Effective policies rely on the support of an engaged citizenry made up of residents who feel psychologically empowered. The primary purpose of this study was to develop a topic-specific measure of sociopolitical control in order to provide a reliable quantitative tool to evaluate tourism development in host communities. Confirmatory factor analysis yielded indices of an acceptable model fit that support the construct validity of a revised Sociopolitical Control Scale for Tourism (SPCS-T). The present study provides empirical evidence that policymakers and researchers interested in gauging support for future tourism policies can successfully apply the SPCS-T in the tourism context.

Interventions of Corporate Social Responsibility of Oil Companies in Promoting Sustainable Community Development in Host Communities in Niger Delta, Nigeria

The paper focused on intervention of corporate social responsibility of oil companies in the promotion of sustainable community development in host communities. The paper identified the strategies of corporate social responsibility intervention in the promotion of sustainable community development to include understanding the operations of corporate organizations, understanding social settings in host communities, identification of relevant stakeholders among others. The highlights of the paper on the reasons of corporate social responsibility for sustainable community development in host communities include improving people’s living conditions, satisfying the interest of many stakeholders, value-added to the operations of corporate organizations, partnership funding, an opportunity to give back to host communities, social justice among others. The paper recommends among other things that corporate social responsibility should stimulate mutual trust among relevant stakeholders as well as that corporate social responsibility should be very helpful to all the relevant stakeholders in the corporate organizations and host communities. The involvement of corporate social responsibility intervention in sustainable community development demands institutionalization of corporate organizations in development initiatives of the host communities in the society.

Spaces for contestation: The politics of community development agreements in Sierra Leone

Across mineral-rich sub-Saharan Africa, it has become increasingly common for mining companies to support development schemes in host communities where resource extraction takes place. The negotiation of so-called ‘community development agreements’ (CDAs), provides an opportunity to address the social and environmental impacts of mining, while at the same time serving as a platform through which company-community relations can be mediated. Unlike discretionary corporate social responsibility programmes, in many countries, CDAs are embedded in law, invoking parties’ mutual commitments and responsibilities. Such initiatives have been heralded as ‘game–changers’, promising equitable redistribution of wealth, structured community development and stable investment climates for extractives companies. However, factors that concern the process of their negotiation, coupled with structural weaknesses, can affect their implementation, transforming them into spaces of contestation which can threaten their potential. Drawing upon fieldwork carried out in Sierra Leone between 2013–2018, this paper critically explores the contested nature of CDAs. Focusing on two different case studies in the south and east of the country, it argues that such agreements will only contribute to genuine development in host communities if the longstanding issues that have stalled the pre-existing forms and instruments of community development are systematically addressed.

Assessing the Performance of Corporate Social Responsibility in Nigerian Universities and Contribution to Development of Host Communities

Assessing the Performance of Corporate Social Responsibility in Nigerian Universities and Contribution to Development of Host Communities

Impact of Tourism Consumption on the Social Development of Host Communities in Cross River State, Nigeria

Impact of Tourism Consumption on the Social Development of Host Communities in Cross River State, Nigeria

Corporate Social Responsibility Programme and Development of Host Communities in Enugu State, Nigeria

Corporate Social Responsibility Programme and Development of Host Communities in Enugu State, Nigeria

Evaluation of the legal framework for promoting sustainable development in the extractive host communities in Nigeria

The extraction of oil and mineral wealth has some environmental, social, economic and political impact on the host communities. In many instances these communities do not derive any sustainable developmental benefit from the wealth extraction activities in their area and where they do, it is less than the magnitude of harm suffered. This has contributed to conflicts between government and host communities, and between host communities and mining companies. This suggests that either there is no legal framework for extractive industry host community development or they are weak or not applied. In Nigeria, existing legal framework includes revenue allocation formulas between the Federal and State Governments, the establishment of bodies like the Niger Delta Development Commission, and enactment of laws like the Nigeria Minerals and Mining Act (NMMA) 2007, the Nigeria Extractive Industry Transparency Initiative (NEITI) Act 2007 and the proposal of the Petroleum Industry Bill 2012 and the recently passed Petroleum Industry Governance Bill 2016. However, despite this framework, contentions persist and there is sparse evidence of sustainable development in host communities to counter some conclusions of ineffectiveness. This article, therefore, examines some of the legal framework to determine their contribution or otherwise and potential towards sustainable host community development.Key Words: Extractive industry, local host community development, Nigeria, petroleum industry, sustainability.

Spatial Distribution of Natural Tourism Potentials and Rural Development of Host Communities in Some Selected Areas of Ekiti State, Nigeria

This study examined the spatial distribution of natural tourism potentials and rural development of host communities in some selected Areas of Ekiti State, Nigeria. Natural tourism potentials gives the tourism industry great respect among other industries in Ekiti State, as well as a major concern to business men and women, tourists, government officials, and the general public. Data for this study were collected from personal survey and the random administration of one hundred and fifty (150) questionnaires on respondents in the study area. Results from this study showed that tourists vary frequently, visit the tourists’ potential sites, due to a large number of tourists’ attraction sites in the area. This study recommended that, there is need for improvement of tourists’ potential sites in the study area. This study will be of great help to tourists, environmentalists’, researchers, planners and policy makers in the tourism industry, as well as boost the economy of Ekiti State and in-turn impact positively on the development of the State.

Strangers and Sierra Leone mining: cultural heritage and sustainable development challenges

The Sustainable Development Framework (SDF) adopted by the International Council on Metals and Minerals (ICMM) represents a major step in the mineral industry's quest to respect cultural heritage and promote community development in host communities for sustainable and conflict-free mining. Using Sierra Leone, West Africa, as a case study, textual analysis of relevant state policies and laws and other pertinent documents, this paper reveals the inherent conflicts between centuries-old customary conceptions of land use and management practices—specifically, the landlord–stranger cultural institution—and modern, largely western, conceptions of land use by multinational mining companies and the national government. The inability of government to formulate, and implement a cultural heritage friendly land and mining policy has led to recurrent conflict and militates against sustainable community development. The mining multinational corporation, the embodiment of the powerful stranger, usurps customary land rights through state-level legal statutes and mining policy, and this has created the stranger hegemony phenomenon. The paper also argues the colonial and postcolonial state has been complicit in reconfiguring landlord–stranger relationships in mining areas. The study reveals that the stranger presence in mining areas has become an entrenched problem exacerbated by power imbalances embedded in statutory laws. The findings enable an understanding of the complexities of meeting social sustainability goals on cultural heritage and community development as articulated by the ICMM. Rectifying these imbalances call for more culturally sensitive policy and legal reforms.

New corporate social responsibility models for oil companies in Nigeria’s delta region: What challenges for sustainability?

Against the background of new models of corporate-community engagements in response to the failings of old models by oil transnationals, this article attempts an assessment of the implementation of the Global Memorandum of Understanding (GMoU) by Chevron and Shell on sustainable community development in host communities in Nigeria’s oil belt. It argues that though the GMoU represents a radical departure from the past in terms of participation and ownership of development projects with the benefits these entail, its potency for sustainable development is hampered by a number of old challenges, namely, the enormity of the development challenge in the Delta thrown up by the failings of an absentee state, the structural constraints imposed on corporations by the profit-maximizing motive and cultural factors that not only prevent effective participation but also promote voicelessness of marginalized groups such as women. The implications of these to sustainable development are explored.

Hotel Companies' Contribution to Improving the Quality of Life of Local Communities and the Well-Being of Their Employees

The aim of this paper is to discuss the question of how hotel companies contribute to improving the quality of life in host communities and the well-being of their employees. A number of research techniques were employed, which allowed to see what the hospitality sector has done to further the aforesaid end. The findings are placed into the context of corporate social responsibility (CSR), and it is argued that, in recent years, hotel companies have gone to great lengths to improve the quality of life in local communities and the well-being of their employees. Critically, by presenting concrete initiatives and highlighting their rationale, it is shown that a growing number of hotels have embedded the idea of CSR into their business models. The paper concludes by asserting that international hotel companies can play an important role in the development of host communities.