Governance of natural resources in São Tomé and Príncipe: A case study on oversight and transparency of oil revenues
This case study examines the governance of natural resources in São Tomé and Príncipe by focusing on the management, oversight and transparency mechanisms or structures set up to monitor oil revenues since 2007.
The study explores the activities, challenges and social communication strategies of these oil-related bodies from 2007 through 2009, identifying problems areas and analysing if and how these problems are linked to larger social dynamics, and how they could be exacerbated by the influx of oil wealth. The study provides some insights on risks of conflict and what can be done to mitigate them in ways that foster social cohesion.
The study made numerous important discoveries, most of which raise serious questions about the country’s commitment to good governance and transparency concerning its future oil revenues. The study shows that the structures are not working as well as they should. There are not only serious problems to do with legal compliance but, more disturbingly, while the problems of management and oversight are well known and understood, little effort is put into corrective action.
Furthermore, little cross-sectoral consultation took place before legislation was passed to set up these structures. As a consequence, there is a sense that the structures are an imposition, leading to lingering resentments across the sectors. Many social actors, including those tied to the system, feel that the structures do not take into account certain “realities” of the society. Civil society believes that the structures impose on it a burden it simply does not have the capacity to bear. Old, underlying problems in society seem to have simply found a “new stage” where they are being “re-enacted”. The myriad oversight problems identified reflects the deep distrust that permeates this island nation.
Governação de recursos naturais em São Tomé e Príncipe: Um estudo de caso sobre a supervisão e transparência das receitas petrolíferas
O presente estudo de caso, encomendado pela International Alert, examina a governação dos recursos naturais em São Tomé e Príncipe, concentrando-se nos mecanismos ou estruturas de gestão, fiscalização e publicidade da informação (transparência) criados para monitorizar as receitas do petróleo desde 2007.
O estudo explora as actividades, desafios e estratégias de comunicação social destes organismos relacionados com o sector petrolífero no período de 2007 a 2009, identificando áreas problemáticas e procurando determinar se existe uma ligação entre os problemas identificados e a dinâmica social em geral, em que consiste essa ligação, e ainda se esses problemas poderão ser agravados pelo afluxo de riqueza proveniente da exploração petrolífera. O estudo apresenta algumas ideias sobre o risco de conflitos e aquilo que se poderá fazer para os atenuar utilizando soluções susceptíveis de promover a coesão social.
