Update on the implementation of Earthworm's Socfin field investigations

Earthworm Foundation recently completed Phase 1 with the in-depth investigation of grievances in SRC (Liberia) and Socapalm Dibombari (in Cameroon).

Phase 2 of the investigation, which aims to investigate grievances raised regarding Socfin operations in Cambodia, Nigeria, and Sierra Leone, as well as additional sites in Liberia and Cameroon, started in September 2023 as initially planned. Earthworm Foundation has already covered LAC in Liberia and SAC in Sierra Leone and is finalising reports on these.

The experience of Phase 1 of the investigation brought the following learning points:

• It is important to dedicate enough time for stakeholder consultation to ensure a robust process.
• The time necessary to ensure complete investigation visits and release reports is longer than initially anticipated.
• Planning of the visits is constrained by the availability of robust multidisciplinary teams made of Earthworm staff and local consultants.

For the reasons listed above, Earthworm will unfortunately not be able to complete Phase 2, according to the initial plan, by December 2023.

The table below gives timelines of the remaining sites to be investigated:

As with Phase 1, summaries of our findings will be made public by Earthworm Foundation, and Socfin will publish action plans for each site investigated.

For more information, contact: socfin.investigation@earthworm.org