In 2013, Mozambique became the first African country to begin work on an NAP on Business and Human Rights as a joint initiative between the government and CSOs. The government first considered signing up to the VPI in 2015, and by 2021 it was back on the national agenda. Mozambique has a further opportunity to demonstrate leadership by becoming the second African state after Ghana to sign up to both the VPs and the VPI, the associated international initiative.
Major companies operating in Mozambique, such as ExxonMobil, Galp Energia, TotalEnergies, Shell, BP, Rio Tinto and Vale, are fully signed up to the VPI, while Gemfields and Eni are in the process of joining as corporate members. Important partners of Mozambique are also VPI members and advocates: these include Argentina, Australia, Canada, the Netherlands, Norway, Switzerland, the UK and the US. And although no Mozambican CSOs are currently members of the VPI, some may be minded to start an engagement – especially those involved in working groups, such as CDD. This would also be a positive step for the VPI, which is keen to engage more CSOs from the ‘global South’.
There is now momentum developing to adopt and implement the VPs and, as the government of Mozambique embarks on the process of engagement with the VPI with the objective of becoming a full government member, it should reflect on the key lessons that emerge from examining the experiences of other states facing similar challenges, as well as from its own history.
First, governments cannot leave the work to the private sector. Unilateral business adherence to the VPs can bring benefits in enhanced security management and social licence to operate, but without overarching government leadership this is likely to remain small-scale, short-term and inconsistent. Government commitment to the VPs and engagement as a member of the VPI allows for cooperation and coordination between stakeholders, as well as access to the lessons learnt, and to the experience and assistance of the wider transnational stakeholder network.
Second, cross-stakeholder accountability and auditing is vital to support adherence to the principles. This will demand openness to free reporting and critical journalism, transparency in decision-making and, significantly, the enhancement of the capacity of domestic oversight mechanisms, judicial bodies and civil society.
Finally, while government membership of the VPI and adherence to the VPs are necessary, they are not sufficient to change the trajectory of Mozambique’s critical extractive sector. They need to be matched by a wider national, government-led effort to improve the human rights environment, and in particular business and human rights, including prioritizing education on human rights for the population, state institutions and security forces, and implementing national training programmes to challenge entrenched patterns of corruption and abuse.
This research paper has illustrated the potential benefits that engagement with the VPs and the VPI could bring – to Mozambique’s government, people and private sector partners. Effective implementation will not be easy. It will not be a discrete event, but rather a journey: a process that will require sustained focus and a willingness to pursue greater transparency and dialogue across government, business and civil society. However, the VPs will provide a roadmap and offer ways to both guide and chart improved human rights for business operations in Mozambique.
