Natural Resource Management in West Africa: The Role of Civil Society and the Media

This 8-page document, published by the West African Resource Watch (WARW) - an initiative of the Open Society Initiative for West Africa (OSIWA), reviews the role of civil society organisations (CSO) and the media in the accountable, equitable, and sustainable management of natural resources in seven West African countries. Based on interviews with organisations and journalists, the document concludes that CSO influence on, and media oversight of, extractive industries has been minimal. A shortage of resources prevents CSOs from conducting research to enhance their advocacy efforts while also preventing journalists from producing in-depth coverage. Among its recommendations, the report advocates for closer ties between CSOs and media as well as further training to improve journalists' skills in specialised reporting on extractive industries among others.

According to the report, with the exception of a few examples of investigative reporting in Ghana, Sierra Leone, and Nigeria, the media has not held government or industry accountable in relation to extractive activities. The report argues that the media lack the basic research tools to carry out its mandate of informing the public. Newspapers seldom carry stories on extractives because investigative tools like digital/video cameras, laptop computers, and audio recorders are lacking. Most of the print media houses surveyed admitted that they lack specialised training in this area and training institutions admitted that their curricula do not allow students to specialise in, for example, environment, finance or extractive industry reporting. Therefore, political reporting seems to be the preoccupation of media practitioners, while economic and environmental issues are put on the back burner. Additionally, journalists in some countries are hindered by a lack of access to information laws.

To address these shortfalls, the report stresses that CSOs need research/analytical and engagement skills to fulfil their mandates. CSOs should also work closely with the media and the legislature to better exercise joint oversight over the executive in extractives and the budget. This includes building and maintaining an advocacy database. The report also advocates for the establishment of resource centres to allow journalists to research stories and to facilitate their on-going training in financial journalism. Training curricula should be modified to allow journalists to specialise in different aspects of economic, environmental and extractives reporting and those choosing to specialise should be provided with insurance to protect their personal liability in the event of court action.