Report NiZA Expert Meeting 'Fragile States and the Resource Curse'

The final report of the expert meeting 'Fragile States and the Resource Curse' that Fatal Transactions member NiZA hosted together with Cordaid is available now. The report contains an introduction to the topics discussed and the aims of the expert meeting. Furthermore, it holds summaries of the presentations and concludes with a set of recommendations.

The expert meeting aimed to contribute to the quality of Dutch policy on fragile states. Core issue of the expert meeting was the increasing pressure on natural resources, the extractive industry and the impact it has on fragile states, especially in Africa. Natural resource governance is of major importance for the development of these fragile states. Many fragile states are suffering from the resource curse. Many oil and mining projects are questioned over their negative impact on a local and national level, while resources could also be contributing to development. Extraction of natural resources often leads to conflict, increased corruption, non-transparent business deals and in the worst cases to permanent environmental degradation and serious human rights violations. Therefore, the trade in natural resources, revenues generated by this trade and the way these revenues are distributed should be made more transparent, in order to help to prevent conflict and to ensure that the local population benefit from their own natural resources.

Eventhough supporting development in fragile states is a major objective of the Dutch national development and foreign policy, it does not clearly mention the role of natural resources as one of the main causes for fragility and conflict in these states. The expert meeting was succesful in fuelling a continuing dialogue on the role of natural resources in fragile states with the active participation of relevant stakeholders from government, NGOs and the private sector.

Read the final report of the expert meeting here >

Read the latest NiZA / Cordaid position paper on Dutch Fragile States Policy here >