We work with both international and community-based organisations that focus on development issues and challenges in society such as unemployment. These collaborations can help to address a specific need in a community where we operate and also to raise operational practices within our business.
For example, we continue to work with the Danish Institute for Human Rights (DIHR) in Iraq and Nigeria. This partnership helps us to integrate human rights practices into the areas of labour practices, procurement, security and community impact. We also work with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) on projects in Iraq and Somalia. Shell’s shipping business, UNDP and other companies have a programme in Somalia to help steer young people away from piracy – nearly 67% of young people are unemployed in Somalia. A $1 million donation by Shell has been used to expand infrastructure in central Somalia to create better road access between communities.
We also have a global strategic partnership with Mercy Corps, an international organisation that helps people to recover from crisis, build better lives and transform their communities. The partnership with Shell and Mercy Corps focuses on bringing benefits to people in some areas where Shell has activities. An example is a project based in Sichuan province, China, aimed at improving practices among smallholder farmers to have a positive effect on their lives.
Shell is also a lead partner and funder of the Global Road Safety Partnership (GRSP). Local road safety programmes, set up as initiatives under the GRSP, are implemented in various countries where we have operations. (See “Road safety”).
