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Nina Taka, Côte d'Ivoire Country Director for the International Rescue Committee (IRC), shares insights on how building trusting relationships founded on respect and active participation is essential for the success and sustainability of local development projects. With a strong 20-year legacy in Côte d’Ivoire, the IRC has consistently demonstrated the value of collaboration in amplifying the impact of its initiatives. In partnership with Eni and local authorities and communities, the IRC has brought meaningful improvements to communities in various sectors. In health, the partnership has improved hospital management, strengthened disease prevention through awareness-raising campaigns, and facilitated the distribution of hygiene materials. These efforts have also expanded access to healthcare, particularly for the most vulnerable populations. In the economic sector, the collaboration has empowered women and youth by fostering self-reliance and economic stability through entrepreneurship programs. By pooling expertise and resources, the IRC and its partners continue to drive sustainable, community-centered progress in Côte d’Ivoire.
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How do we begin to build a trusting and collaborative relationship with local institutions and communities?
Building trust starts with open and honest dialogue. It’s so important to really listen and understand the priorities, challenges, and strengths of the institutions and communities we’re working with. That’s the foundation it shows respect and sets the stage for collaboration. A big part of this process is making sure everyone is involved from the beginning. From the design phase of a project, we bring all stakeholders together to identify needs and priorities and co-create practical, realistic solutions. For example, local institutions might provide technical resources, while community organizations bring critical local knowledge and the ability to mobilize people on the ground. Transparency is also key. We always make it a point to clearly communicate the project’s strategy and objectives with everyone, local institutions, community leaders, and community members. That openness builds trust and ensures everyone is on the same page. I’ll share an example of this in action: in Côte d’Ivoire, the IRC partnered with Eni on a program called Pro-Jeunes. This initiative focuses on equipping Ivorian youth with skills for industries of the future, like digital marketing, business entrepreneurship, and automotive mechanics. By offering targeted vocational training, the program has empowered dozens of young people with the tools they need to successfully enter the workforce. This kind of collaborative effort doesn’t just address immediate needs, it builds capacity and creates lasting change. Ultimately, trust is also about sustainability. That’s why we work to build local capacity, improve management skills, and ensure communities have access to the resources they need to keep projects going long after we’re gone.
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How can an NGO and a large company like Eni share their respective expertise and experience?
By combining their expertise, NGOs and companies like Eni can forge partnerships that not only address immediate needs but also create long-term, sustainable impacts in the communities they serve. Allow me to give you some examples about how this happens on the ground.
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NGOs and companies bring unique and complementary strengths to a partnership. NGOs like the IRC have a deep understanding of the socio-cultural and economic conditions of communities and are well-positioned to identify and address the needs of vulnerable groups. Companies, on the other hand, contribute financial resources, technical expertise, logistical capabilities, and expansive networks. These resources enable the delivery of innovative technology solutions tailored to local community needs. By pooling these strengths, NGOs and corporations can create impactful and sustainable development initiatives.
Successful partnerships begin with clearly defined common goals that reflect the missions and priorities of all involved. For instance, Eni’s dedication to sustainable growth complements the IRC’s focus on community-driven solutions. Together, they can support initiatives that improve infrastructure, education, and healthcare access. These goals must be co-defined in a transparent and inclusive way, ensuring active participation from local communities. This inclusive approach ensures that the outcomes are not only impactful but also aligned with the needs and aspirations of the people they aim to support.
Corporations excel in offering innovative solutions to complex social challenges, while NGOs are skilled at adapting these innovations to the local context and implementing them sustainably. This collaboration ensures that cutting-edge solutions address real needs on the ground while being practical and sustainable in the long term.
Companies can enhance public services by providing infrastructure, equipment, and resources, while NGOs focus on training local staff to manage and maintain these services effectively. A good example is the project to strengthen the local health system in Côte d'Ivoire, led by the IRC and funded by Eni Côte d'Ivoire. This initiative focuses on improving healthcare in the South-Comoé region by upgrading health infrastructure, supporting infection prevention and control measures, empowering health authorities, fostering community participation, and promoting women's empowerment.
In the area of environmental sustainability, companies can implement sustainable practices, invest in clean technologies, and provide resources for ecological projects. NGOs, in turn, play a vital role in raising awareness among local populations and facilitating the adoption of environmentally friendly behaviors. This combined effort ensures that environmental protection measures are both effective and community-led.
Companies can share their expertise in management, technology, and innovation, while NGOs act as facilitators, organizing and tailoring training programs for local communities. For example, in the Pro-Jeunes project in Côte d’Ivoire, financed by Eni and Iveco, companies provide educational materials and tools, while the IRC coordinates and implements the training. This includes vocational training on automotive mechanics at technical institutes in the Abidjan district While tutors deliver technical training, the IRC complements this with entrepreneurship training, equipping young men and women with the skills needed for self-reliance and sustainable economic growth.
Collaboration is not just about words it must be demonstrated daily through concrete and consistent actions. The IRC deeply values and thanks Eni for its support and partnership, which exemplifies this spirit of collaboration. Together, we are making a tangible and lasting difference in the lives of the communities we serve.
Nina Taka
Country Director of the International Rescue Committee in Côte d'Ivoire
What are the positive effects of the projects you have carried out with Eni?
The projects we have carried out with Eni have delivered tangible, positive results in the daily lives of the communities involved. For example, by enhancing the management of healthcare facilities in collaboration with local partners, we’ve seen a significant improvement in access to healthcare. Health center attendance rates have increased by over 30%, driven by facility refurbishments and improvements in service quality. These outcomes reflect the direct impact of our joint efforts on community well-being.
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Why is access to health services so important to improving a country's local communities?
Access to healthcare is fundamental to improving local communities because it directly impacts productivity, economic stability, and social well-being. A healthy population is more capable of working efficiently, which drives local economic growth and helps reduce poverty. Strengthening health systems to make care accessible to the most vulnerable prevents and treats diseases, lowering the financial burden of healthcare on families and breaking cycles of vulnerability and persistent poverty. These savings can then be redirected toward other essential needs, improving overall family well-being. For children, access to quality healthcare ensures they are healthier, more likely to attend school consistently, and better positioned to complete their education, providing them with a strong foundation for success in adulthood. Additionally, in many African contexts where women are the primary caregivers, healthier families mean women have more time to pursue economic and professional opportunities, further contributing to their household and community.
Access to healthcare also plays a critical role in fostering social stability by reducing inequalities. When everyone in a community can access care, it promotes a sense of fairness, justice, and social cohesion, strengthening the fabric of society.
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Eni's commitment to sustainability in Côte d'Ivoire
Interview with Giuseppe Marando, Sustainability Manager in the country.
STORIES
Côte d'Ivoire: new energy and local development
Supporting Côte d'Ivoire along the energy transition path with offshore exploration activities, agri-feedstock production and value-creating initiatives.
ACTIONS
Baleine, great energy in the Côte d'Ivoire
It is the largest hydrocarbon discovery in the country and it will also be the first net-zero development in Africa.
ACTIONS
Improved cooking stoves ignite the future of families in Côte d'Ivoire
The project distributes improved cooking stoves with the aim of reducing wood biomass consumption and associated emissions.
ACTIONS
Côte d'Ivoire, in Port-Bouët support for education is primary
Our programme supports education for compulsory school students, families, teachers and facilities.
ACTIONS
Supporting local health infrastructures in Côte d'Ivoire
We strengthen the local health system through the training of medical personnel and provision of medical supplies.
Eni for 2023. Alliances for development
Browse the interactive special where we collect data, real cases and testimonials on our collaborations with our host countries.
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