Community relations
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Successful community relations activities provide a means by which to proactively engage with stakeholders on a regular and ongoing basis to share information and identify issues, concerns, needs, ideas and values, areas of mutual interest, and potential conflicts with the goals and objectives of any proposed project activity. Integration of learnings should be considered in the decision-making process. A comprehensive grievance mechanism should be implemented with stakeholders.
ExxonMobil operates in some of the most isolated areas of Papua New Guinea. Learn how we build community relationships in Papua New Guinea.
Community engagement in South Africa and Colombia
As we extend our reach into new areas, it is imperative that we engage with local communities from the onset.
For example, in 2013, ExxonMobil began considering new operations in the Transkei/Algoa Exploration Area on the South African coastline. In partnership with our co-venturer, Impact Africa, a team of ExxonMobil employees and consultants led a series of community engagement meetings in the area.
The key objectives were to communicate currently envisioned project options, develop relationships with community members and discuss environmental sensitivities with key stakeholders. Audience members included local environmental authorities, NGOs, marine researchers and community members. Three stakeholder meetings were held in Port St. Johns, East London and Port Elizabeth in June.
Through this process, we were able to open communication channels between the project team and these communities. We were also able to collect informed comments about how the public could be impacted by the proposed exploration activities. We look forward to advancing potential exploration activities in South Africa and growing our presence in that country.
We are also progressing plans to start onshore exploration in the Middle Magdalena Valley region in Colombia. To address local citizens’ potential concerns, ExxonMobil led a team to begin community engagement in this area. Community engagement specialists have held more than 100 meetings to date in three different regions, focusing on social engagement, environmental studies and other topics.
More than 3,600 local citizens have attended these meetings to date. The meetings have helped establish an ongoing dialogue and identify key community needs, such as potable water treatment systems, which ExxonMobil may be able to provide.
ExxonMobil strives to have a positive impact in each community in which we operate. We believe strong, informed communities pave the way for a successful business environment.
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Transparency and anti-corruption
We are committed to preventing corruption, complying with all legal requirements, operating with the highest ethical business practices and communicating openly with transparent processes.![Workers in neon vests gathered around a table for a meeting](/-/media/global/images/supporting-images/operations/land-use-management-supporting.jpg?usecustomfunctions=1¢ercrop=1 )
Land use and resettlement
We seek to implement fair, transparent and collaborative processes to assess and manage the restoration of households — including their livelihoods — when our activities result in physical or economic displacement.![Two male ExxonMobil workers on-site](/-/media/global/images/supporting-images/operations/exxonmobil-employees-pipeline-facility-supporting.jpg?usecustomfunctions=1¢ercrop=1 )
Economic development
Our activities produce direct and indirect benefits to communities wherever we do business — an essential way is through the development of a globally competitive local workforce and local supply chain.![Children on a farm with corn](/-/media/global/images/supporting-images/people/resettled-family-farming-supporting.jpg?usecustomfunctions=1¢ercrop=1 )
Indigenous peoples
We respect indigenous peoples and their cultures, commit to conducting meaningful consultations with them, incorporate traditional knowledge and land use information into our plans and seek mutually beneficial long-term relationships.![Two children with arms around each other](/-/media/global/images/supporting-images/people/two-children-smiling-supporting.jpg?usecustomfunctions=1¢ercrop=1 )
Cultural heritage and diversity
We respect local cultures, beliefs and diversity. We rely on local knowledge, ideas, skills and culture to find the right balance between economic development and protecting cultural heritage.![Women in Mozambique participate in the PEMA program to learn about commercial agriculture.](/-/media/global/images/supporting-images/people/mozambique-women-participants-pema-program-commercial-agriculture_supporting.jpg?usecustomfunctions=1¢ercrop=1 )