BP: Community Engagement in southern Iraq   

Project Overview: In 2014 the Rumaila oilfield in southern Iraq, one of the biggest producing oilfields in the world, was affected by community protest action.  Work on a new installation at Qarmat Ali was stopped for a period of 6 months, at a cost of $100,000 per day.  An agreement with the community was reached end 2014 to allow work to restart, in exchange for support for a series of community development projects.  CWP partner Rob Denny was engaged by BP over the course of 2015 to help deliver on those commitments, as project Communications and External Affairs manager.   The social development work included vocational training, health and water projects, and a new community access road.

Client: “We knew we needed experienced help to get the projects moving, and Rob fit the bill.  He worked hard to maintain a constructive dialogue with external stakeholders around Qarmat Ali and to deliver projects for the community there. He has also supported our community engagement efforts in North Rumaila. Finally, Rob assisted our team members in areas ranging from communications, to governments affairs and event management. We appreciate Rob’s contribution.”, said Ilya Bourtman, VP Middle East for Communications and External Affairs at BP.

Year: 2015, 2016

Primagas Energía: Strategizing Sustainability

Project Overview: Primagas Energía, a Spain-based gas company with a long track record of corporate social responsibility, provides gas to clients that are not connected to the grid. To further strategize their CSR efforts, Community Wisdom Partners was asked to conduct a study into the sustainability needs of NGO clients and recommend on further organisational integration of CSR.  

Client: Marta Vila Fernandez-Santacruz, Marketing Director, commented: "We wanted to set up a collaborative framework with some NGO clients and decide upon future CSR activities. With the support of Community Wisdom Partners we identified how to better integrate sustainability in our corporate strategy. Now we feel confident our next steps in CSR will be valuable for society as well as for our business."

Year: 2015

London Mining: Social Plan in Sierra Leone

Project Overview: In 2011 London Mining was a mining junior re-establishing an iron-ore mine in the interior of Sierra Leone that had lain idle for almost 40 years. The local town was alongside the mine concession, which surrounded it on 3 sides. In this context, social issues were among the key business risks facing the company. CWP partner Rob Denny oversaw the social aspects of the mine’s ESIA, and established the Community Relations department to handle its local stakeholder engagement. He also developed IFC-compliant company policies on Resettlement, Influx, Grievances, Local Procurement, and the mine’s Social Management Plan.

London Mining was able to achieve its financing objectives with loans from Equator Principle banks, who required evidence of IFC compliance, and successfully managed its social risks until the enterprise ran into trouble with the ebola crisis of 2014.

Client: Responding to London Mining’s generosity Paramount Chief Bai Koblo Queen said, “London Mining is a fitting partner for progress, always poised to help our local communities."

Year:2011

Oxfam: Improving Petroleum Governance in Ghana, Mozambique and Tanzania.

Project Overview: Oxfam America requested Community Wisdom Partners to do an oil & gas revenue management and community capacity baseline survey, mid-term review and end line evaluation in Ghana, Mozambique and Tanzania. CWP conducted the studies and provided country reports and overall briefs which were beneficial for the client, the grant-maker and local stakeholders. Oxfam America complimented the CWP team members for their diligence, effectiveness and good results.

Client: "...managed the extractive industry analysis .. written an informative and practical report guiding Oxfam's project strategy... sensing and sense-making of oil & gas stakeholders... valuable for any type of stakeholder study." - Katie Martorana, Extractive Industry Program Manager.

Year: 2015, 2016 and 2017