Cobranded with UNHCR

The term “resource curse” refers to the paradox that countries rich in natural resources such as oil, gas, and mining often experience less economic growth, weaker democratic institutions, and greater inequality than countries with fewer natural resources. This report from the Natural Resource Governance Institute examined how resource revenue-sharing systems around the world can both support and undermine economic development and political stability. Drawing on research from 30 countries, the publication highlighted eight nations for deeper comparative study and offered recommendations for policymakers developing or reforming revenue-sharing frameworks.

Although both NRGI and the UNDP maintain established visual identities, the client requested a clean-sheet approach that felt more modern, corporate, and accessible to audiences outside their typical policy readership. Because of an accelerated timeline and the absence of predefined brand direction, a four-page Executive Summary was developed first to establish the publication's visual language, then expanded into the full 116-page report. Pull quotes, highlighted findings, and modular infographic elements created pacing and improved readability across dense policy content.

Infographics were structured for extraction and reuse across PowerPoint presentations, social media, and blog content. Photography was sourced from a combination of author-provided assets, commercial libraries, and Creative Commons-licensed imagery to reinforce the report's global scope.