Local development: a priority for Eni

Project development may require the acquisition and/or use of land (or water) and the subsequent relocation of people. It is therefore necessary to minimise the socio-economic impacts on their lives by limiting as much as possible the loss of assets or access to assets, which generates the loss of sources of income or livelihood resources. 

Local Content is a tool that supports communication with local authorities and provides a useful assessment to guide investment decisions to promote local development. It represents the added value brought to the countries through three lines of intervention:

• transfer of skills and knowledge
• activation of local economic sectors in the supply chain 
• interventions to foster the growth and diversification of the local economy. 

We track and examine all requests received from our stakeholders to implement sustainable development initiatives shared with local communities. Key elements of the process are openness to dialogue and listening, inclusiveness, understanding the views and expectations of those involved, and sharing choices. 

The initiatives deployed by Eni cover six areas of intervention:

• Access to off-grid energy: to promote the installation of self-sufficient, off-grid systems that allow communities access to basic services and contribute to local socio-economic development

• Land preservation: to enhance and protect the local natural heritage, including with activities to support waste management in communities, and to restore the ecosystem, with remediation activities focused on recovering native vegetation

• Economic diversification: to foster food safety, the development of entrepreneurial, agricultural, fishing and infrastructural activities, in a long-term perspective, facilitating the creation of new job opportunities for people and businesses, women and youth empowerment

• Access to water and sanitation: to ensure the availability, the sustainable management of water and sanitation services for the local population

• Education: to promote equitable and inclusive access to quality education and learning

• Community Health: to promote access to health and combat the spread of diseases through prevention and treatment.

The continuous and two-way relationship, with those directly or indirectly involved, means we can analyse their requests (and/or possible complaints), understand local needs and consolidate mutual trust.

The monitoring of activities to identify critical issues, opportunities and risks from a socio-economic and environmental perspective, including the respect and promotion of human rights, through the application of standardised impact assessment tools (ESHIA) for all contexts of presence.

The definition and implementation of local development programmes (LDPs) consistent with Country Development Plans, Agenda 2030 and Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and local needs analysis.

We manage the evaluation and measurement of local development through the use of tools and methodologies:

• which are our own, and are developed in cooperation with academic institutes such as the Eni Local Content Evaluation (ELCE)
• which are shared internationally and adopted by Eni, such as the Logical Framework Approach (LFA), the results-based management approach and project cycle management.

The numerous collaborations with institutions, cooperation agencies and local stakeholders enable a useful approach, to identify key interventions to be implemented in the area.

In 2022 we completed the project initiated by Eni and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Kazakhstan to bring solar power and other energy efficiency measures to a secondary school in Turkistan for the benefit of 1,900 students. 

In Mexico, we established our willingness to collaborate with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) through a Memorandum of Understanding. The first fruits of the agreement include a feasibility, technical and socio-cultural study of the Mezcalapa-Samaria Sub-basin Water Security Plan to reduce the risk of natural disasters and activities in the area of sustainable tourism management as an opportunity for economic diversification of the host territories, in particular the rehabilitation of the La Venta Park-Museum in Villahermosa. We also work with AVSI and the Tabasco State Government to support the training and education of teachers and students. Activities include the upgrading of 13 schools, the distribution of school materials for primary schools, skills development through courses and workshops, and the involvement of local communities in educational activities.  

As part of the projects for access to energy from renewable sources initiated with the Association of Volunteers for International Service (AVSI), Eni is also active in Kenya with the installation of solar panels equipped with OPV (Organic Photovoltaic Panels) technology in schools and other community facilities.

The partnership began in 2020 and continued in 2022 with the signing of an Agreement of Understanding that provides for collaboration in economic diversification, education and vocational training projects in Africa. The initiative involves the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS) and the Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore di Milano (UCSC) in promoting entrepreneurship (particularly female entrepreneurship) and youth employment, and encourages new businesses to expand abroad. 

From 2019 we will implement a programme of technical and vocational training in collaboration with the Cabo Delgado Provincial Directorate for Science and Technology, Higher Vocational and Technical Education, Don Bosco High School and the Colleges and Institutes of Canada. The aim is to support the improvement of young people’s technical skills by providing assistance to the Industrial and Commercial Institute of Pemba (IICP). We have contributed to the training and certification of teachers and managers of the IICP, provided industrial equipment, instrumentation and built a laboratory. We also provide scholarships and professional courses.

With this university, we have developed different methodologies to measure the impacts generated on the territory, assessing the economic value brought by our presence and analysing the social benefits created. The methodologies are defined in accordance with metrics already used by international bodies and validated by research and academic institutions. The main tools that have been developed are theEni Local Content Evaluation (ELCE) Model and the Eni Impact Tool. To date, the ELCE model has been applied to the following projects: CCS Ravenna Phase 1 Congo LNG and Baleine projects in Côte d'Ivoire, OCTP in Ghana, East Hub, West Hub, Quiluma & Maboqueiro in Angola, Zohr in Egypt, Coral South in Mozambique, Area 1 in Mexico, as well as to the Italian operating sites of Ravenna, Sannazzaro de' Burgondi and Val d'Agri. The Eni Impact Tool has been applied to energy access projects in the Republic of the Congo (Centrale Électrique du Congo) and in some communities in the Niger Delta.

We collaborate with the Faculty of Agriculture of the University of Milan on different projects and with multiple applications in the field. In the Republic of the Congo, we are working to develop agro-livestock initiatives and support the activities of the Centre d'Appui Technique et Ressources Professionnelles (CATREP).