ARUA DISTRICT MULTI-STAKEHOLDER ACTION PLAN FOR OIL AND GAS Addressing issues; Building relationships; Improving outcomes

Transcription

1 ARUA DISTRICT MULTI-STAKEHOLDER ACTION PLAN FOR OIL AND GAS Addressing issues; Building relationships; Improving outcomes This action plan has been developed collectively by participants in the Arua District Multi-Stakeholder Forum, which is facilitated by Maendeleo ya Jamii (MYJ) and sponsored by the Democratic Governance Facility (DGF). In its current form, this district action plan seeks to progressively address four key issues: 1) Information & communication; 2) stakeholder engagement; 3) education & training; 4) local economic development As at MSF 5

2 Table of Contents Issue 1: INFORMATION & COMMUNICATION:... 2 Action 1: District writes a letter to relevant Ministry seeking written communication to LG and communities on oil exploration before activities start... 2 Action 2: District LG should share information it receives on oil and gas with communities... 3 Action 3: Communities should write to District LG demanding for information... 4 Action 4: Community should organise meetings to share information among themselves... 5 Action 5: Awareness creation on oil and gas activities through radio talk shows and sensitisation meetings, etc... 6 Action 6: Regular update of District Council on oil exploration activities... 7 Action 7: District writes to MEMD seeking clarification on fate of licensing on Rhino Camp... 8 Action 8: District writes to MEMD and MLHUD requesting for boundary of Mvule Block... 8 Action 9: Wanyange members write to District Chairperson on their delayed compensation by Neptune... 8 Issue 2: STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT:... 9 Action 1: Communities in Arua MSF invite CSOs involved in oil & gas to their meetings to provide material and technical support... 9 Action 2: Request for cross-learning visits to Buliisa, Hoima and outside the country... 9 Action 3: Advocate for a regional (West Nile) task force on oil and gas... 9 Action 4: Pass a council resolution that requires companies to officially launch their operations in the district before activities commence...10 Issue 3: EDUCATION & TRAINING:...11 Action 1: District acquires and disseminates information on available courses related to oil and gas at institutions i.e.kigumba, Kichwamba, etc...11 Action 2: District provides or lobbies for scholarships for students to train in oil & gas sector...11 Issue 4: LOCAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT:...12 Action 1: Prepare the to benefit from the oil and gas sector in terms of employment and other economic opportunities...12 Action 2: Request for LED resource materials from experts

3 Issue 1: INFORMATION & COMMUNICATION: 1) Oil exploration activities began with minimal LG and information and involvement; 2) No information and awareness on the oil exploration process, including benefits, impacts, form of oil to be recovered, security concerns, stakeholders that will be involved, schedule of activities, etc; Action 1: District writes a letter to relevant Ministry seeking written communication to LG and communities on oil exploration before activities start LC V Chairperson July 2014 A) i) Delay of response from MEMD; ii) classified information - B) i) reminder letter or phone call; ACAO will follow up with LC V Chairperson on response from MEMD; ii) try use MPs and others to access information, use existing laws 1) increased awareness by LG and communities; 2) clarity on LG and roles & responsibilities; 3) information disseminated to LG and communities; 4) feedback from Ministry 1) change in perception by communities; 2) access to district letter to MEMD and their feedback A) CSOs, LGs, (opinion leaders, elders, etc), Multi- Stakeholder Forum; B) letters, minutes of meetings, recorded discussions on radio talk shows, reports of LG monitoring visits to communities; C) Monthly 2

4 3) Central government has information that is not shared with LGs and communities because they are not open, but companies expect LGs and communities to have that information already from central government; 4) Minimal information about the role of LG and communities in the oil and gas sector Action 2: District LG should share information it receives on oil and gas with communities District & S/C Councillors, DCDO, District Environment Officer, CAO, LC V Chairperson, RDC, LC I and III Chairpersons & continuously A) Availability of relevant information; B) Engage relevant officials to provide information 1) information available at subcounty, parish and village level; 2) increased awareness; 3)reduced conflict between all stakeholders 1) Communities keeping information on file at village and S/C level; 2) members seeking information from the files A) LC I, III and V Chairpersons, District and S/C Councillors, members, Committees of District and S/C Councils; B) minutes of meetings, files at village and S/C level, minutes of council committees; C) Monthly 3

5 Action 3: Communities should write to District LG demanding for information LC I Chairperson, village council, representatives to Arua Multi- Stakeholder Forums, village committees on oil and gas & continuously A) i) transport to the district headquarters; ii) illiteracy in communities; B) i) deliver letter to reliable local leaders for onward delivery to district ii) request for support to write from those who are literate (e.g. Parish or S/C Chief) 1) letters from village councils to district officials demanding information; 2) increased awareness 1) letters of response with relevant information from district and S/C officials to villages; 2) increased coordination between communities and their leaders; 3) active, motivated and empowered communities; 4) increased attendance at meetings; 5) greater trust between communities and their leaders A) LC I, III and V Chairpersons, S/C Chief, representatives to the Arua MSF, district and S/C Councillors; B) copies of letters to and from districts, minutes of village meetings, council minutes; C) Monthly 4

6 Action 4: Community should organise meetings to share information among themselves Sub- County and District level Community representatives to the Arua MSF, village committees on oil and gas, LC1 Chairperson, District and S/C Councillors, elders & continuously A) Failure to bring credible feedback to the ; B) Give credible information to communities A) Increased awareness and accurate updates on the oil and gas activities; B) Increased trust in the local leaders Increased attendance at meetings A) Community representatives to Arua MSF, LC III Chairperson, members; B) attendance lists of meetings, copies of meeting reports; C) Monthly 5

7 Action 5: Awareness creation on oil and gas activities through radio talk shows and sensitisation meetings, etc District Environment Officer, DCDO,CAO, LC V Chairperson, RDC after receiving a response to Action 1 A) Limited information; B) demand for information from relevant sources A) Demand for airtime by LGs to radio stations; B) Increased awareness on oil and gas activities; C) Requesting for support from other partners (central government, CSOs, etc); D) communities and LGs will feel like they own the oil; E) increased trust in the local leaders Airtime granted to LG by radio stations A) The presenters and moderators of the radio stations B) recorded information on radio, workshop reports; C) Monthly beginning 9th October

8 Action 6: Regular update of District Council on oil exploration activities Chairperson and Secretary of NR Committee, LC V Chairperson, District Councillors, CAO, PEPD, companies, MPs Starting September 2014 NR Committee meeting and October 2014 District Council meeting A) i) NR committee report not on the order paper, ii) slow or no response from PEPD or companies; B) i) Brief the NR Committee Chairperson so that he understands value of including it on order paper, ii) constant and regular demands for updates A) increased awareness of District Council on oil and gas; B) increased district involvement and participation in oil and gas issues; C) increased sustainability of oil and gas activities in the district; D) mainstreaming of oil and gas activities in district DDP and annual budget A) recommendations of NR Committee presented to Council; B) Council resolutions on oil and gas activities; C) oil and gas issues integrated in DDP and annual budget A) Speaker and Clerk to Council, Chairperson and Secretary NR Committee, District Planner, District Councillors; B) Minutes of Council and NR Committee, district budget and DDP, attendance lists of Council and NR Committee, Council Order Paper letters to PEPD and companies; C) Starting October 2014 and quarterly 7

9 Action 7: District writes to MEMD seeking clarification on fate of licensing on Rhino Camp Action 8: District writes to MEMD and MLHUD requesting for boundary of Mvule Block Action 9: Wanyange members write to District Chairperson on their delayed compensation by Neptune [Letter was written by LCI chairperson to MEMD. No reply yet] Subcounty LC V Chairperson LC V Chairperson LC I Chairperson End of October 2015 End of October 2015 September 30, 2015 (A) Many years have passed since Neptune was active in Arua; there is no evidence that land or crops were valued then; some people were compensated but there is no documentation to that effect. 8

10 Issue 2: STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT: a) Communities in Arua MSF are disseminating information to other communities with limited support; b) Capacity/ strategic positioning of Arua in oil and gas sector is lacking; Action 1: Communities in Arua MSF invite CSOs involved in oil & gas to their meetings to provide material and technical support Action 2: Request for cross-learning visits to Buliisa, Hoima and outside the country District-wide Community Leaders; S/C leaders As and when meetings are organised District-wide CAO; MSF; MYJ September 2015 c) Limited advocacy capacity of Arua as a district Action 3: Advocate for a regional (West Nile) task force on oil and gas W/Nile CAOs; LCV Chairpersons September

11 Action 4: Pass a council resolution that requires companies to officially launch their operations in the district before activities commence District-wide DN Committee; Leader of Government Business; Speaker October

12 Issue 3: EDUCATION & TRAINING: a) Lack of technical expertise in Arua to participate in oil and gas sector Action 1: District acquires and disseminates information on available courses related to oil and gas at institutions i.e.kigumba, Kichwamba, etc District-wide CAO; DEO; CDOs September 2015 Action 2: District provides or lobbies for scholarships for students to train in oil & gas sector District-wide CAO; LCV Chairperson; DEO and continuously 11

13 Issue 4: LOCAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT: a) High expectations of employment by oil companies Action 1: Prepare the to benefit from the oil and gas sector in terms of employment and other economic opportunities District-wide DCO; CDOs; Community Leaders; Business Community and Continuously Action 2: Request for LED resource materials from experts District-wide CDOs; Community Leaders and Continuously 12