Approximately 3.5 billion people live in countries rich in oil, gas, or mineral resources.1 While the development of these natural resources has the ability to positively impact citizens of the countries where these resources are located, often very little of the wealth created from extractive projects benefitsthe communities where they operate.2 Communities in areas affected by extractiveprojects often suffer from displacement, environmental pollution, and a lack of meaningful voice in decision making,as well as other harms and human rights abuses.3 Within these communities, the rights of women and youth areparticularlyat risk. Furthermore, human rights defenders seeking to protect their communities and environment increasingly face threats and reprisals fortheir work opposing extractives projects. In addition, many countries rich in oil and minerals facewhat has become known as a “resource curse,” where despite their abundance of natural resources, they see less economic growth, democracy, and equitable development than their resource-poorer neighbors. Corruption and poor governance are often at the root ofthis phenomenon; key to overcoming it aretransparency andaccountability, better resource management, stronger legal frameworks for businesses, and fiscal policies that benefit affected communities and society as a whole.