Launched in 1995, the Socio-Economic Program represents a long-term commitment by Yadana project participants to the local communities. The following pages present different aspects of the program as it is applied in the pipeline region:
- Medical and health care.
- Education.
- Support for economic development.
- Infrastructure.
In addition to health care, education is one of the priority areas targeted by Total in the socio-economic support programs it implements for projects around the world. Health and education are considered as fundamental human rights essential to ensuring that other rights are enjoyed fully.
The program is being carried out in the spirit of sustainable development, with the goal of encouraging activities that the villagers can pursue themselves.
The program is defined and implemented through ongoing dialogue with the villagers, expanding gradually year after year to include new elements. Of course, a development program is not cut into marble, it is living and in constant evolution. For instance, contents of training are updated after each session, to integrate comments and/or advices from all attendants.
At another level, some activities were gradually transformed and improved. It is the case of the old loan system, which was transformed into a systematic micro-finance program. The formerly called “agricultural loans” are not used anymore: they were just turned into another program.
Socio-economic activities were reorganized in 2007. Six departments were created (Community Development, Public Health, Microfinance, Agriculture and Breeding, Infrastructures and Education). Among them, the Community Developement section has a transversal approach, and provides technical expertise to the other ones.
