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Considering the role of the extractive industry in the DRC and other areas of conflict

  • Dates: 1 November 2011
  • Time: 13.00 - 14.30
  • Location: IDS Convening Space

About the presentation
 
Edward O'Keefe looked at the work that Synergy Global has done with the extractive industries in the DRC and other areas of conflict, including in Guinea, Cote D’Ivoire, Nigeria, Sierra Leone and Yemen. He looked at the drivers for extractive industries operating in areas of conflict, how issues of conflict are being managed, and some of the underlying reasons for why extractive industry companies fail or succeed at managing conflict.
 
Listen to the speakers
 
Listen to Edward O’Keefe (speaker), John Humphrey (moderator) and Emilie Wilson (attendee) discuss what they think the biggest challenge is for business operating in areas of conflict; the global implications and what they took from the seminar. Hear the interviews on Mixcloud above.
 
Key points from the seminar
  • Key factor in role of minerals in conflict and the role of companies is governance
  • Extractive industry operations are deeply embedded in communities
  • Extractive industries have a significant impact in areas they operate – never neutral and these impacts can be managed
  • International and national initiatives can only go so far in ensuring extractive companies are a driver for good change
  • Companies are not monolithic – pursuing different strategies and huge internal diversity.

Listen to Edward O’Keefe's seminar on the role of extractive industries
in conflict areas.

About the speaker

Edward O'Keefe is a Director for Synergy Global and has experience with organisations such as AngloGold Ashanti, Shell, Rio Tinto, Newmont, IFC, DFID, as well as with international NGOs, and as an external assessor for Newmont's Five Star Community and External Relations management system. He has authored papers on a range of subjects, advancing thinking on issues including indigenous people, poverty and the extractive sector. He worked previously for the conservation NGO Fauna & Flora International and the UK Department for International Development, mainstreaming natural resource and poverty issues into the Ugandan government programme to reform agricultural advisory services.

Synergy is an independent international consulting company that works with businesses operating in challenging environments to help them secure their long-term value by creating positive social outcomes through the way they work. They work with companies, governments and NGOs, focusing on the management of social issues surrounding large-scale commercial projects, particularly in the extractives sector at all phases of the project life cycle from exploration and feasibility assessments right through to project closure.

For more information on this seminar, or any others in the series, please contact Vivienne Benson. This event is part of the 'Conflicting Interests' Business and Development seminar series, hosted by IDS' Globalisation team.