Oxfam's Work on Mining, Oil, Gas and Poverty

Africa is endowed with about a third of the world’s mineral resources, but not enough of the billions of dollars these resources generate is devoted to health care, education, and to help small-scale farmers. Countries need the right institutions and transparent policies to help citizens play a role in deciding whether, and therefore how, oil, gas, and minerals are exploited, and how revenues from these resources are spent to reduce poverty.

Oxfam is a global organization working to right the wrongs of poverty, hunger, and injustice. An international confederation, Oxfam works with people in more than 90 countries to develop long-term solutions to poverty, and campaign for social change.

This report outlines our growing work on mining, oil, and gas issues in Africa. We are working with countries that are just discovering and beginning to develop resources, like Mozambique, Uganda, and Kenya, as well as countries with a long history of natural resource extraction like Ghana, Mali, Senegal, and South Africa.