Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI)

Nominations for the new EITI board are currently open, for more information please go here

What is the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative?

The Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) is a multi-stakeholder initiative comprised of governments, companies, civil society groups, investors and international organizations. The EITI aims to strengthen governance by improving transparency and accountability in the extractives sector. It is a voluntary initiative that is implemented by countries whose governments sign-up to do so.

Before being accepted as an EITI ‘candidate country’, governments must meet five sign-up criteria. Implementing the EITI involves a range of activities, but in essence it boils down to governments publishing what they receive from extractive companies and the latter publishing what they pay to governments. These figures are then matched up – or not, as the case may be. A country is deemed ‘compliant’ once it has been assessed through the validation process.

The EITI Board and the EITI International Secretariat are the guardians of the initiative’s methodology that supports improved governance in resource-rich countries through the verification and full publication of company payments and government revenues from oil, gas and mining. Implementation itself, however, is the responsibility of individual countries.

The EITI Rules (2011) provides guidance for countries and companies wishing to implement the initiative. The Validation Guide establishes the methodology countries need to follow to become fully compliant with the EITI. Read the EITI Fact Sheet and the current workplan.

To view the initiative’s global progress to date, see the EITI candidate and compliant country lists.

Why does PWYP focus on the EITI?

PWYP’s core objective is for companies to “publish what you pay” and for governments to “publish what you earn” as a necessary first step towards a more accountable system for the management of natural resource revenues. If companies disclose what they pay, and governments disclose the receipt of such revenues, then civil society in resource-rich countries have a greater chance of comparing the two and thus holding their governments accountable for the management of this valuable source of income.

The EITI provides an internationally recognised framework for companies to publish what they pay and for governments to disclose what they receive. The multi-stakeholder nature of the Initiative at both national and international levels has provided a valuable space for civil society representatives to engage in dialogue with their government and company counterparts.

Due to the voluntary nature of the EITI however, PWYP recognizes that the initiative’s principles will not capture all key resource rich-countries around the world. PWYP thus also advocates for mandatory mechanisms to require revenue disclosure, through, for example, accounting standard reforms and stock market listing regulations.

PWYP’s work on the EITI

PWYP was instrumental to the creation of the EITI and since its inception has played a crucial role in shaping the initiative – pushing for more rigorous policies and processes to ensure the global standard (and reputation) is upheld PWYP has affiliated members or coalitions in almost all of the 35 EITI candidate countries. Members of these national coalitions often serve among the civil society representatives as part of the national multi-stakeholder groups responsible for EITI implementation. At the same time, they also serve as the local watchdogs of the EITI. To learn more about what PWYP national coalitions are doing to engage in the EITI, please visit the individual country pages.

At the international level, PWYP members also serve on the EITI Board, overseeing EITI policy and strategy. You can view the list of EITI board members details online.

Today, PWYP continues to remain closely engaged to ensure that the global standard of the EITI remains meaningful and robust. The EITI International board recently launched a consultation about the future of EITI and potential changes to the standard. PWYP is coordinating and encouraging a united response from civil society stakeholders to capitalize on this important occasion to strengthen EITI. For more information please visit the page on the future of EITI.

You can also see details about PWYP’s work related to the EITI in the United Nations and G8 sections of the International Institutions page in addition to the Investors page.

Transparency Counts

This video, created by the EITI Secretariat, was screened at the 2011 Global EITI Conference in Paris.

During the 2009 EITI Global Conference, this video was screened: EITI - Making resources work for people. It gives a good overview of EITI from the perspective of all stakeholders in the process.

For more information please contact Sophia Harding, PWYP Programme Officer, by email
or on +44 20 7031 0716.