Alert has been working directly in Sao Tome and Principe since 2004, with the aim of strengthening institutions and building the capacity of the media, parliamentarians and NGOs so that they are equipped to prepare for, respond to and manage the forthcoming oil revenues – thereby preventing conflict. In order to achieve this we are working closely with the Association of Sao Tome and Principe NGOs (FONG), the media and parliamentarians.

Oil production in Sao Tome and Principe is set to provide the government with unprecedented financial resources when it begins in 2011. If this revenue is harnessed for the common good, the population of 140,000 could benefit greatly. However, the 2003 military coup has shown that poor management of oil revenues could pose real threats to the stability of this relatively peaceful nation. Also the high level of expectations from the population about the financial benefits of the oil offers the potential to breed conflict.

There is a window of opportunity in Sao Tome and Principe at the moment. The lessons learned from many other oil producer states could be put to good use. If oil production is managed well, and local people are connected to policy makers, then it is possible to prevent conflict.

For more information, contact Chitra Nagaraja

A vigorous and professional mass media that can scrutinise and question government decisions is an essential cornerstone of a free and open society. Strengthening journalists' capacity and independence is vital to ensuring transparency, accountability, respect for the rule of law and good governance.

The media in STP are relatively underdeveloped. The government controls all radio and television except the Portuguese-run channels from Lisbon and the Voice of America radio station which has its regional transmission centre on STP.

Alert’s work in STP began in September 2004; since then a media centre has been set up which will serve as a training and research centre. A series of trainings has been facilitated by Alert on mass media and society, the ethics of journalism and media law, and more specific courses on oil-related issues such as transparency and scrutiny, specialist oil reporting, and investigative reporting.

For more information, contact Chitra Nagaraja

Not surprisingly, there is little awareness amongst FONG members either of the potential impacts of oil on STP or of the role of civil society in influencing the country’s approach to natural resource management. Alert’s support for FONG concentrates on increasing its members’ awareness of the impact of oil and enabling them to work as a monitoring/pressure group to press for adherence to international policy; the facilitation of two-way flows of information between people and government; and advocacy for directing oil revenues towards social development. An ‘oil unit’ has been set up within FONG’s offices which will serve as a resource centre and a focal point for bringing NGOs together to work on ways of approaching the issue. We had a second meeting that brought together a cross-section of people from rural communities and civil society to start talking about what oil will mean for them in the future.

Alert is planning a public awareness campaign designed to increase knowledge and understanding of oil issues throughout the two islands. This will take the form of a countrywide media campaign with government representatives and civil society activists ready to answer questions. The conducting the awareness campaign will familiarise FONG with the issues, and the public awareness campaign will provide FONG with an insight into attitudes amongst the wider population.

For more information, contact Chitra Nagaraja

A group of parliamentarians has been convened and has started a programme of training on oil and transparency issues and ways of reviewing and supervising state budgets and expenditure. We are planning a study trip to Norway in order to provide an insight into drafting laws on oil and resources, as well as the role of parliament in scrutinising and monitoring resource flows in a democracy.

For more information, contact Chitra Nagaraja

National Discussion on Oil Revenue Management in Sao Tomé and Principe (STP), and Regional Coordination Meeting of Civil society from Portuguese-speaking Countries in Africa