ACTION RESEARCH ON THE CURRENT AND POTENTIAL IMPACT OF THE OIL INDUSTRY ON COMMUNITIES IN KENYA AND UGANDA
Time frame: November 2014 – February 2015 CALL FOR RESEARCHERS
ActionAid International is seeking qualified and experienced researchers to carry out action research on the current and potential impact of the oil (exploration/extraction/production) industry on communities in Kenya and Uganda.
Background
In March 2012, the discovery of large deposits of oil in Turkana County of northern Kenya was announced amidst much celebration of its prospects for stimulating Kenya’s economic growth through oil revenue and employment. The Government of Kenya has since declared more exploration areas (1) Lamu – 216, 000 sq. km (2) Mandera – 43, 404 sq. km (3) Anza – 81, 319 sq. km (4) Tertiary Rift Valley – 105, 673 sq. km. There have been other recent mineral discoveries including niobium, titanium and coal and an accompanying influx of foreign investors seeking to cash in. This is all taking place amidst allegations of compromised Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA), concerns over whether there is a sufficient policy environment to cover, among other things, benefit sharing frameworks (to benefit local communities), environmental degradation contingency plans, a lack of transparency and access to information on investment contracts and agreements as well as a glaring lack of common standards to guide the behaviour of oil corporations.
Unlike Kenya, Uganda has a long history of oil exploration with its discovered oil deposits lying in the Albertine Graben on the country’s western border with the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), and potentially additional reserves in the Hoima, Lake Kyoga and Kadam- Moroto basins.
Little attention has been paid to the current and potential impact of all this activity on the communities in exploration areas. Among others, there are current concerns on benefits sharing and the compensation and resettlement arrangements – particularly, to what extent women are involved and consulted. Experiences from other countries in Africa indicate that oil extraction leads to displacement of communities and the accompanying loss of land rights and livelihoods, widespread environmental degradation, endemic corruption, poor governance and a lack of transparency. There are documented negative impacts related to oil exploration and exploitation that are specific to women. These include loss of land which they have been cultivating to feed their families, changes in the family system as spouses relocate to oil sites for employment, health issues related to environmental degradation (and the extra burden of care women bear nursing family members whose health is
affected) and sexual exploitation particularly of younger women with the influx of foreign and local workers at the oil sites.
ActionAid International (AAI) and its partners in Kenya and Uganda have a common interest in protecting the rights of communities in the context of land and natural resource governance. AAI works with people living in poverty to address the structural causes and consequences of poverty through rights-based initiatives and campaigns. It is committed to enhancing the rights and improving the livelihoods of communities living in poverty by supporting them to claim access to and control over land and natural resources. It also supports marginalized communities to secure direct support and policies from government, and accountability from corporates, in order to improve livelihoods and food security
Focus Areas
This action research will focus on three major areas:
- Analysing the current and potential social and economic impact on communities – and in particular, the specific gendered impact on women as well as on community livelihoods and food sovereignty.
- A comprehensive analysis of community-company relations with a view to promoting corporate accountability in this context
- Analysing the most relevant national, regional and international legal and policy frameworks and their implementation in both countries
The research will be undertaken in the following geographical locations: in Kenya – Kerio Valley in Baringo County, including but not limited to Barwessa and Salawa areas; in Uganda – parts of the Albertine Graben, including but not limited to Hoima, Buliisa, Nwoya and Nebbi districts
Methodology
AAI’s human rights based approach (HRBA) supports people living in poverty and exclusion to become conscious of their rights, organize themselves to claim their rights and to hold duty bearers to account. We go beyond the legal and technical approach by working with people to analyse and confront power imbalances. We put the active agency of people first, analyseandconfrontunequalandunjustpowerandadvancewomen’srights. Wearealso solutions-oriented and promote credible and sustainable alternatives in our work.
The action research must reflect this approach and will be oriented towards proposing actions that will improve the situation, voice and agency of affected communities in multiple ways. Researchers will work closely with ActionAid staff and partners in both countries.
Applications
Applications from researchers (research teams are encouraged) should demonstrate experience in similar action research work and a clear understanding of the rights-based approach. Please submit a three to four-page proposal with a detailed description of the methodology and approaches you will employ. Applications must also include a financial proposal, links or references to past work, and the full CVs of all researchers involved. Researchers will preferably be based in Kenya or Uganda.
Send all applications to Wangari Kinoti by e mail (wangari.kinoti@actionaid.org) no later than 5pm Nairobi time, on Thursday, 13 November, 2014.