Our host countries and communities
Our current host countries are Nigeria Niger and Cameroon. We work closely with the local communities in our areas of operation in Niger and Nigeria.
In South East Nigeria our footprint covers 22 Local Government Areas (“LGAs”) in Akwa Ibom and Cross Rivers states. Within the 22 LGAs, there are 22 paramount rulers, 247 local communities, each with a village head, and 50 clan heads. Key stakeholders also include various local interest groups representing youths and women, opinion leaders, social cultural groups and government agencies.
In Niger we work with 13 local communities in and around N’Gourti within the Diffa region, which is located in the south-east of the country. We also liaise with in-country non-governmental organisations.
In Cameroon, there are approximately 40 local communities, comprising over 480 households, in the Nganha and Ngaoundéré 3rd districts surrounding our Bini a Warak hybrid hydroelectric and solar project, located in the northern Adamawa Region of the country.
Engagement is key to maintaining our social licence to operate. Our corporate philosophy is based on the conviction that our projects should benefit all of our stakeholders, particularly our host countries and the local communities in which we operate. Acting in a responsible manner towards our stakeholders is seen as critical to the ongoing effectiveness of our operations.
How we engage
We take a positive and constructive approach to working with local communities, seeking to maintain good relationships with them all. We engage with the local communities in which we operate, maintaining our social licence to operate by ensuring that our policies on safety, the environment and human rights are followed to the highest standards in our operations, projects and activities. Regular engagement meetings are held with the local communities in which we operate to discuss and manage any concerns proactively. These meetings also help us keep local stakeholders updated as we progress in our operations and projects. This process is also applicable to our local project contractors who engage with the communities as often as required. The regular interaction, through both formal and informal engagement meetings with local stakeholders, allows us to address any actual and/or perceived issues or concerns they may have, ensuring that our social licence to operate is maintained. The participatory principle is always applied and, wherever it operates, Savannah deploys stakeholder engagement and grievance management procedures in all engagement forums. In addition, we have a local content policy designed to ensure that, wherever possible and appropriate, we prioritise qualified employees and suppliers from our local communities. We fund and provide social impact in our local communities.
Photo legend: (L-R) Arabi Djalal, Renewables Contractor, Savannah; The Beleka of Nganha His Majesty Salihou Saouboum; and Jonathan Monthe Siewe, Project Development Manager, Savannah, at the Beleka Palace, Nganha, Cameroon
