Gender-sensitive health workers response in Nigeria: the role of corporate social responsibility in oil host communities

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to critically examine the multinational oil companies' corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives in Nigeria. Its special focus is to investigate the impact of the global memorandum of understanding (GMoU) on gender-sensitivity responses to health workers' development in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria. Design/methodology/approach This paper adopts a survey research technique, aimed at gathering information from a representative sample of the population, as it is essentially cross-sectional, describing and interpreting the current situation. A total of 1,200 women respondents were sampled across the rural areas of the Niger Delta region. Findings The results from the use of a combined propensity score matching and logit model indicate a significant relationship between the GMoU model and women, gender and health workers' development in the Niger Delta, Nigeria. Practical implications This suggests that CSR interventions of multinational oil companies are a critical factor in the need for gender-sensitive responses to health workers' development. Social implications It implies that, for gender mainstreaming in health workers' development, understanding gender dimensions and taking gender-responsive steps be incorporated into GMoU policies and action plans of multinational enterprises. Originality/value This research contributes to the gender debate in healthcare from a CSR perspective in developing countries and the rationale for demands for social projects by host communities. It concludes that business has an obligation to help in solving problems of public concern.