The role of multinational oil companies' corporate social responsibility initiatives in reducing ritual killings of women and girls in oil‐producing communities of Nigeria: Theory and evidence

Abstract

Abstract This study contributes to the emerging theoretical argument that the corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives of foreign businesses should be shaped by the specific socioeconomic development requirements of a host country. A specific problem in Nigeria's oil‐producing region is the rising prevalence of ritual killings of women and girls. There have been increasing demands by communities in that region on multinational oil companies (MOCs) to provide community development programs and assistance. As public resources are insufficient, developmental projects and other social infrastructures are lacking in most of these communities. Given a community need, an obligation of MOCs to provide a CSR initiative addressing ritual killings depends on cost‐effective impact: An obligation must be feasible to fulfil in terms of reduction in killings at a reasonable MOC investment. We examine empirically the impact of MOCs' CSR initiatives on deterring the prevalence of ritual killings of women and girls. Even meager global memorandum of understanding (GMoU) interventions specifically targeted at women recorded significant success in improving women's participation in political, social, and economic activities of the region. The findings suggest that MOCs have a feasible obligation to help in solving a concrete problem of social protection and vulnerability in host communities.