Working to ensure resources benefit local communites
“Pro-Natura acts as a middle-person between operating oil companies and communities,” says Garry Mann, Nexen's general manager of health, safety and environment. “They help delta communities appraise their needs and then they make sure that the money we donate is used for their designated purposes.”
Conflict escalates between neighbouring communities.
An escalation of the conflict between Liama and Egweama has resulted in many deaths, while thousands of Liama residents have fled to Akassa for safely. At its core, the conflict is over who will be the one to receive potential oil benefits from the drilling in the area. Chief Bill Knight, the PNI Executive Director, has accused the oil company of failing to engage successful with the two communities.
In addition the 12 communities
Kolo Creek LGA have elected a general assembly for the
Kolo Creek Development Foundation, following their visit
to the 'living university'
15 Nov. 2005
PNI Sponsors and Partners awarded for Excellence.
Statoil, a long-term supporter of
participatory community development, has been awarded the
'Large Company Social Excellence Award' by the World Petroleum
Congress. The Akassa programme has also been recognised
with an award. Click here for details....
Akassa Development Foundation
The Akassa Kingdom is a model of peace and stability in the
volatile region. For the last 8 years, the Akassa Community
has been managing its own development process. Click
here for details...
Andoni Island Elephant Population Study
The West African elephant population on Andoni Island in
Rivers State is not viable for conservation efforts to be
attempted.
Building Institutions for Sustainable Development.
Pro-Natura International Nigeria is redefining the practice of community-led sustainable development in the Niger Delta through the Coastal Development Initiative Click for more details...
Pro-Natura International (Nigeria) advocates that the participatory
process is the only viable vehicle for sustainable development, conflict
resolution and economic improvement for poor and marginalised communities
in the Niger Delta and elsewhere. Since 1997, Pro Natura Nigeria has
pioneered and successfully demonstrated participatory development with
rural communities; strengthening existing institutions and creating
community capacity to assess, plan, manage monitor and evaluate their
own developmental needs.
With the help of PNI, communities such as the Akassa Kingdom, Eastern
Obolo, Opobo-Nkoro and Oron have kick-started their own development
through the establishment of corporate Community Based Organisations
(CBOs). These CBOs have learnt to help themselves and to attract the
help of others.
Participatory
Community Development, as practiced in these coastal areas, represents
the best chance at ensuring equitable distribution of benefits directed
towards communities: ensuring that development in the communities is
inclusive, gender balanced and equitable. This community-led development
process helps to promote peace and security within the communities.
Communities have learnt to apply local solutions to local problems
in areas including: poverty reduction; health; education; small scale
infrastructure development; improved natural resource management; violent
conflict and preventing benefit capture.
PNI's Mission:
“To work with all strata of Nigerian society for the improvement of the quality of life, especially that of the poor, through the actualisation of bottom-up, community-driven, gender-balanced, meaningful and useful development, built on the principles of environmental integrity, peace-building, good governance and interactive participation”.
PNI's Vision:
Pro-Natura International (Nigeria) has a vision for Nigeria. It entails:
People centred development;
Social peace building;
Sustainable and responsible governance and systems;
Facilitating local peoples' dreams of self actualisation;
Empowering the poorest of the poor;
Inclusiveness and consensus building;
Achieving the Millennium Development Goals for
Nigeria.
To do this, Pro-Natural International (Nigeria) strives to be the best
and brightest Non-Government Organisation in Nigeria.
Major
Programmes:
1/. Community Development:
Akassa Development
Foundation.
Eastern Obolo Development
Foundation.
Opobo-Nkoro Development
Foundation.
Oron Community Development
Trust.
Bonny - Implementing
the 'Roll Back Malaria' Programme.
Ogun State (Exploratory
study conducted).
Project Novella (Delta
and Ondo States)
2/. Peace Building
/ Conflict Resolution:
Developing institutions capable of "managing
the peace".
Involving youth in community development initiatives;
given them a voice to be heard.
Providing skills training.
3/. The Institute
for Sustainable Development:
PNI (Nigeria) response
to the urgent need for capacity building in the region.
The core component
of which are the 'living universities'.
4/. Research:
Nigerian Coastline Study
undertaken by Dr Carolyn A. Ristau et al- key component of the Coastal Development Initiative.
Andoni Elephant Population
Study.
Sponsors
Multiple stakeholder support has been provided for the facilitation of the Development Foundations;
the Niger Delta Coastline Study; and the Institute for Sustainable
Development by private companies, development agencies and International
governments. Specific appreciation for long term programme and institutional
support is given to:
Statoil (Nigeria) Ltd.
TOTAL Nigeria.
The Bayelsa State
Government.
ChevronTexaco Nigeria.
The Embassy of France in Nigeria.
British High Commission
in Nigeria.
Shell International
Ltd.
The Mac Arthur Foundation.
European Union (MPP3
and MPP6 programme for Nigeria).
