SAIS African Studies and OXFAM Conference
Tuesday, March 28, 2017

Recent discoveries of oil and gas across East Africa over the last decade have catapulted the
region as the new frontier for hydrocarbons. Prospective extractive projects could spell billions
of dollars in government revenue which, if managed responsibly, could finance much needed
infrastructure, social services and ultimately transform the region. Yet since major discoveries in
Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania and Mozambique were announced, oil and gas prices have
stagnated and the once-promising investments suddenly seemed doubtful.
Since Oxfam and the Brookings Institute hosted its multi-panel event, “East Africa’s Oil and Gas
Boom – Promise and Peril,” in March 2014 there have been significant political and economic
changes both in the region and globally. Such changes warrant a critical analysis of their policy
implications for the future of these East African countries.
This three-part event will focus on recent political and economic changes in East Africa and its
implications on oil and gas development. By bringing together representatives from government,
private sector, civil society, media and the international donor community, it seeks to review
what progress has been achieved in the last few years and what governance challenges lay
ahead.

Panel 1: “Money and Politics – The political economy of oil/gas in East Africa”
Panel 2: “Land for livelihoods or investments? Community rights in the context of extractives”
Panel 3: “The role of the international community in resource governance in East Africa”