1. New Oxfam Report on Lifting the Resource Curse

Press Release

Profits must be shared to help poor
  – Oxfam  

Poor people are losing out on massive profits generated by extractive industries which are not being shared fairly with producing country governments, international agency Oxfam said in a research report released today. Said Oxfam spokesperson, Jaime Atienza: “A new, fair deal for poor people in resource-rich countries is needed now.  Profits from gold, copper, oil, gas and diamonds could be funding teachers, midwives, medicines, clean water and sanitation in poor countries.”  

Oxfam’s report - Lifting the Resource Curse – argues hydrocarbons offer an opportunity to leverage significant development financing.  Yet unfair distribution of profits between weak developing countries and powerful multinational companies, and a lack of transparency in the industry, means many developing countries cannot capitalize on their natural resources to reduce poverty and inequality, and to strengthen public services. Said Atienza: “Existing gas, mineral and oil industry profits offer an opportunity to channel significant revenue into basic services for local people. With the global economic crisis hitting poor countries hard, and the Millennium Development Goals’ deadlines fast approaching, every cent counts and the need for more transparency and accountability at all levels is ever more urgent. Income generated through extractive industries could be used to drive development and poverty reduction if the right measures are put in place now. ”

The report recommends compulsory transparency measures in the licensing and award of extractive contracts, in payments made by companies to governments, in the public management of revenues, and in the targeting and implementation of public spending.
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2. Lever la malédiction des ressources

Introduction

Comment les pauvres peuvent et devraient profiter des revenus des industries extractives?

Dans les pays riches en minéraux et en hydrocarbures, il est fréquent qu’un petit nombre de sociétés privées profite de l’exploitation de ces ressources, tandis que les recettes publiques sont faibles ou mal utilisées et que les populations locales restent pauvres. La manière de lutter contre la « malédiction » des ressources naturelles consiste à partager les avantages équitablement entre les secteurs privé et public et à mieux répartir les budgets publics afin d’augmenter les dépenses dans les secteurs des soins de santé de base et de l’éducation, ce qui permettrait de lutter contre les inégalités et de créer de l'emploi pour les personnes défavorisées. La transparence et l'obligation de rendre compte sont essentielles tout au long du processus et en particulier en ce qui concerne les plans de dépenses publiques à tous les niveaux de gouvernement. Le moment est venu de mettre en place un nouveau programme juste pour les habitants pauvres des pays riches en ressources naturelles. La crise économique mondiale actuelle confère à cette démarche un caractère encore plus urgent.

Joseph Williams
Information & Advocacy Officer 
Publish What You Pay
Work: +44 (0) 20 7031 1616 
Mobile: +44 (0) 77 7575 1170
Email: jwilliams@publishwhatyoupay.org  
www.publishwhatyoupay.org

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