The World Bank, Natural Resource Extraction, and Human Rights in Africa

The World Bank Group is engaged in the exploitation of natural resources in Africa through the provision of loans, equity participation, insurance, and political risks guarantees to governments and corporate entities. The Bank¡¯s involvement in the extractive sector is often premised on its poverty-alleviation mandate. However, rather than alleviating the sufferings of Africans, some extractive projects financed by the Bank may be exacerbating human rights abuses in the continent. This paper undertakes a critical assessment of the World Bank¡¯s involvement in Africa¡¯s extractive industries, including an examination of its social safeguard policies. Using the example of two recent projects – the West African Gas Pipeline Project, and the Chad-Cameroon Oil Development and Pipeline Project, the paper argues that although the World Bank policies are well-intended, they have had few positive impacts due to poor implementation. The paper suggests substantive changes to the implementation of the policies with a view to improving their impacts.