Promoting Democratic Management of Africa’s Oil Wealth

Lessons from Angola, São Tomé e Príncipe, and Nigeria


This meeting disseminated lessons from “Promoting Democratic Management of Africa’s Oil Wealth” - a regional project that addressed oil revenue transparency and accountability in several countries in sub-Saharan Africa.
The project’s goal was to inform international public debate on the extractives industry – primarily oil revenue management in Africa and to help citizens gain an understanding of the amount and use of oil revenues so that they can hold their own governments accountable. The meeting aimed to increase regional understanding of challenges in oil revenue management and transparency.

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Padre Belmiro Chissengueti described the work that his organisation, the Episcopal Commission for Justice and Peace (CEJP) was undertaking in Angola, particularly its role in building the capacity of civil society as part of an Economic Justice Programme through research into oil, diamonds, public expenses, information sharing and networking. More research needs to be undertaken by Angolans themselves rather than by foreigners. Collaboration with Partnership Africa Canada and the International Budget Partnership were instrumental in this. CEJP’s work on transparency echoed that of previous speakers, finding that there had been some improvement in transparency of the oil sector and more openess by oil companies. However he pointed out that in Luanda the space for debate is far greater than in most of the rest of the country. The main reccomendations were that access and desaggregation of data needed to improve, and that there are changes to the legal framework required to promote the fuller disclosure of information.

[Full Summary Report Here]

Lessons from Angola, São Tomé e Príncipe, and Nigeria


This meeting disseminated lessons from “Promoting Democratic Management of Africa’s Oil Wealth” - a regional project that addressed oil revenue transparency and accountability in several countries in sub-Saharan Africa.
The project’s goal was to inform international public debate on the extractives industry – primarily oil revenue management in Africa and to help citizens gain an understanding of the amount and use of oil revenues so that they can hold their own governments accountable. The meeting aimed to increase regional understanding of challenges in oil revenue management and transparency.

[...]

Padre Belmiro Chissengueti described the work that his organisation, the Episcopal Commission for Justice and Peace (CEJP) was undertaking in Angola, particularly its role in building the capacity of civil society as part of an Economic Justice Programme through research into oil, diamonds, public expenses, information sharing and networking. More research needs to be undertaken by Angolans themselves rather than by foreigners. Collaboration with Partnership Africa Canada and the International Budget Partnership were instrumental in this. CEJP’s work on transparency echoed that of previous speakers, finding that there had been some improvement in transparency of the oil sector and more openess by oil companies. However he pointed out that in Luanda the space for debate is far greater than in most of the rest of the country. The main reccomendations were that access and desaggregation of data needed to improve, and that there are changes to the legal framework required to promote the fuller disclosure of information.

[Full Summary Report Here]