Poor countries that are rich in natural resources have too often seen the well-being of their people and ecosystems deteriorate as a result of destructive, irresponsible resource extraction. This is commonly known as the “resource curse,” whereby foreign investors and local elites extract great wealth from poor countries while leaving behind a legacy of social inequality, political corruption, and ecological damage.
KAIROS works with our global partners to play our part in breaking this curse.
One cornerstone of sustainability is the right of communities to exercise free, prior and informed consent (FPIC) over developments that will affect their well-being, their enjoyment of human rights, and the integrity of local ecosystems. KAIROS partners are working to empower poor and marginalized populations in resource-rich countries to participate in decision-making that affects their lives. Our partners in the global South are opening up democratic space in their countries to debate the role of resource extraction in reducing poverty. They are challenging economic policies that promote foreign-owned resource extraction as the only path towards development. In some cases, they are advocating for stronger regulatory regimes to maximize fiscal and economic benefits to the local population, and hold companies responsible for cleaning up their environmental messes. In other cases, they are rejecting resource extraction and embracing alternative economic development paths such as sustainable agriculture and forestry, ecotourism and other activities. This movement to “keep the oil in the soil” and promote food sovereignty is emerging as a popular response to the triple crisis of hunger, poverty and climate change.
