The impact of corporate social responsibility interventions on gender responsiveness of agricultural extension in Nigeria’s Niger Delta

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to critically examine the multinational oil companies’ (MOCs) corporate social responsibility initiatives in Nigeria. Its special focus is to investigate the impact of the global memorandum of understanding on improving gender-responsiveness of agricultural extension systems in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria. Design/methodology/approach This paper adopts an exploratory method in a quasi-experimental research design. The primary data used were gleaned through a survey of a sample of 1,200 respondents selected from all over the nine states of the region using multiple sampling techniques while the secondary data were generated from the publications of the MOCs, archives of the host communities and publications of the National Bureau of Statistics. Findings The results from the use of a combined propensity score matching and logit regression indicate that the little CSR intervention of the MOCs in the host communities towards access to agricultural extension services have made significant impact in the areas of women’s adoption and use of improve farming inputs and technology and has enhanced the women’s economic capacity and general wellbeing. Practical implications This suggests that an increase in CSR targeted at agricultural extension in empowering women and increasing their incomes and their family’s food security can bring knowledge and skills to those who need them the most. Social implications The findings play a significant role in identifying sources of bias and inequality and bottlenecks in furthering studies on gender-sensitive impact assessment of reforms in extension systems, food security and agricultural development. Originality/value This research contributes to gender debate in agricultural extension from a CSR perspective in developing countries and explains the rationale for demands for social projects by host communities. It concludes that business has an obligation to help solve problems of public concern.