Chevron: Rethinking Development Partnerships

Africa.com

16 May 2011

Chevron: Rethinking Development Partnerships

by Dennis Fleming, Chevron, Project Manager, Niger Delta Partnership Initiative

The following is a guest post by Dennis Flemming, Project Director of the Foundation for Partnership Initiatives in the Niger Delta (PIND) and Secretary of the Niger Delta Partnership Initiative (NDPI) Foundation Inc., for Chevron Corporation. Chevron’s NDPI partnership in the Niger Delta is providing a new model for private sector-led economic development efforts throughout Africa. This signature program is one of several ways the company is investing in Africa’s future. More on Chevron’s programs can be found in the 2010 Corporate Responsibility (CR) Report.

Private corporations are driving a new model of partnerships for capacity building and development in Africa. The old way of doing this important work consisted largely of well-intentioned philanthropic investments. While that kind of contribution is still important, it is neither a sufficient nor sustainable approach to creating a prosperous long-term future for both society and business.

A strong example of this new approach is unfolding in the West African nation of Nigeria. In order to more effectively address the socio-economic challenges in the region, and create a strong environment for broader job creation and business investment, Chevron established the Niger Delta Partnership Initiative (NDPI), a multi-sector effort to promote economic development, improve the capacity of local and regional governments, and reduce conflict.