Projects

Policy and Advisory Work + Extractive Industries


Equipping the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation for the Low-Carbon Transition How Are Other National Oil Companies Adapting?

The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation’s (NNPC) persistent governance challenges have both hampered Nigeria’s oil sector development and deprived the country of public resources. The oil, climate, and COVID-19 crises and the ramp-up of the low-carbon transition exacerbate this reality, with the national oil company (NOC) delivering sub-optimal returns to its stakeholders. Other NOCs have taken… read more

Tracking Impacts and Making Effective Use of Environmental Impact Assessments for Guinea’s Bauxite Mining

As part of a two-year funded research project co-sponsored by the Earth Frontiers Seed Grant of Columbia’s Earth Institute and the UN Development Programme in Guinea, led by Principal Investigator Lynnette Widder, CCSI is conducting a legal review of the current environmental and political framework for regulating the mining industry in Guinea.

The African Green Deal

As with all regions of the world, Africa must urgently consider its energy future.  Africa is rich in zero-carbon energy sources, including hydroelectric, solar, geothermal, and offshore wind energy, varying by region. It is also in urgent need of scaling up modern energy services as per SDG 7, especially 100% access to electrification and safe… read more

A Review of Sierra Leone’s Mines and Minerals Act

With the support of Oxfam, the Columbia Center on Sustainable Investment reviewed select provisions in the Mines and Minerals Act 2009 and corresponding policy statements from the Minerals Policy 2018 to provide recommendations for how to best align the anticipated new mining law with international best practice.

Study on Major Initiatives Promoting Good Governance of the Extractives Sector

CCSI conducted a study that maps a selection of the major initiatives designed to promote good governance of the extractives sector for GIZ. The mapping describes the scope and use of each initiative and highlights areas where initiatives overlap in their approach and focus. The mapping provides recommendations on the applicability of different subsets of frameworks and initiatives to different tasks and circumstances.

Support to the UN SDSN on the Post-2015 Sustainable Development Agenda

CCSI provides ongoing support to the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network (UN SDSN) Thematic Group 10 on Good Governance of Extractive and Land Resources. This has included technical support on reports and documents during the development of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), as well as development of potential indicators to measure progress toward the SDGs. In addition, CCSI and the Thematic Network have worked together on several projects to identify research gaps and generate innovative solutions.

Integrating the SDGs in Company Sustainability Strategies

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) represent the world’s comprehensive post-2015 agenda for equitable, socially inclusive, and environmentally sustainable economic development. Meeting the SDGs by 2030 will require unprecedented cooperation and collaboration among governments, non-governmental organizations, development partners, the private sector and communities. Unlike the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), the SDG framework calls upon the private sector to incorporate the goals into its practices and operations. CCSI is working with a leading energy company to align its sustainability strategy to the SDGs.

Localizing the SDGs: Data-Driven Development Planning

CCSI is supporting the local governments in Huasco Province, Chile, to develop a roadmap for a long-term development strategy that will take into account the large-scale mining investment by Nueva Union, a joint venture of Teck and Goldcorp. The copper-gold mining project is expected to make up 60% of the gross domestic product (GDP) of the Province during operations and will alter the socio-economic dynamics in the Province.

Do Companies Have Personalities (and Does It Matter?)

CCSI has launched an interview series on “company personalities” looking in particular at how a company’s personality determines its negotiation strategy, the contractual provisions it pushes for, and the overall relationship between the company and the host governments. The interviewees are senior experts who have many decades of experience in advising governments in resource rich countries.

Mozambique: Development of a Five-Pillar Plan for Resource-Based Development

This 2011 project examined how the vast resource deposits in the Tete province, combined with other major investments along the Nacala and Beira corridors, can be the basis for sustainable, equitable and inclusive growth in the Lower Zambezi Basin.

International Gas Outlook and Implications for Developing Tanzania’s Gas Projects

In partnership with the Uongozi Institute, CCSI prepared a brief that reviews recent developments in the international gas market, with particular focus on proposed offshore gas projects in Tanzania. As Tanzania positions itself to benefit from gas discoveries by increasing its domestic gas use, the brief outlines some of the trade-offs and considerations for negotiating the domestic gas allocation.

Supporting Governments and Civil Society: Legal Frameworks Governing Extractive Industries

CCSI advises governments and civil society organizations on various issues relating to the legal frameworks that govern extractive industries.

DRC: Human Rights Impact Assessments For Mining Projects

CCSI supported local organizations in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to carry out human rights impact assessments, as well as developing two economic models for the Sicomines mine in the DRC to compare the financial flows under the resource for infrastructure deal with a ‘traditional’ contract under the mining code of the DRC.

Tanzania Diagnostic Trade Integration Study

CCSI was contracted to write the extractive industries section of the World Bank Diagnostic Trade Integration Study (DTIS) for Tanzania. The study identifies the internal and external trade constraints that hinder the development of the priority sectors, and provides policy recommendations on how these obstacles can be overcome.

Paraguay: Leveraging Paraguay’s Hydropower for Sustainable Economic Development

This advisory project, undertaken for the Government of Paraguay, explored the potential for creating a climate risk management system, and developing sustainable agricultural activities, to mitigate environmental vulnerability; and developed a high-level strategic plan around using Paraguay’s vast hydropower resources for sustainable economic development, and the diversification of its economy.

Timor-Leste: Support to the Strategic Development Plan

CCSI supported the drafting and adoption of the 20 year Strategic Development Plan (SDP) for Timor-Leste, and helped to develop new institutions and laws to optimize the use of the country’s petroleum fund for development.