Mark ROBINSON, EITI Executive Director, looks back at the year’s highlights.
This year has been a milestone for the EITI. Our 20th anniversary was an opportunity to look back, celebrate progress and reflect on the way forward. The new EITI Standard 2023, launched in Dakar in June, is testament to how far we have come. Twenty years ago, the EITI brought together a handful of countries interested in tracking the revenues and expenditure of the extractive sector. Today, it has become a powerful global standard, implemented by nearly 60 countries and supported by more than 60 companies.
In the aftermath of COP28, it is clear to me that we must continue to evolve to help countries meet the most pressing challenges in the governance of natural resources. With nearly 120 governments committed to tripling their renewable energy capacity by 2030, it is imperative that governments and businesses manage their transition minerals responsibly, with particular attention to the priorities of citizens and communities. Our call for action in the renewable energy sector also builds on the lessons learned from the EITI, and we therefore urge greater transparency and accountability in the extractive sector to limit the risks of corruption.
The EITI’s mission would be impossible without the dedication and commitment of EITI implementing countries and the multi-stakeholder community. The 2023 EITI Global Conference, hosted by Senegal, was an opportunity to underline this. I was overwhelmed by the energy and dynamism of the 1,300 participants who took part and shared their experiences, ideas and passion for ensuring transparent and inclusive governance of natural resources.
As we enter the new year, we will continue to work closely with the new EITI Board and Colleges to pursue our collective mission and update our strategic priorities. In this spirit of progress and collaboration, I would like to extend my warmest thanks to all those who make the EITI possible.
Ten highlights of 2023
1. 20 years
In June, the EITI celebrated its 20th anniversary at the ninth EITI Global Conference hosted by Senegal. Half of the countries implementing the EITI are African, and this was the first time that the triennial EITI conference was held in Africa.
2. EITI standard
The EITI Standard 2023 has therefore been launched, with new and improved provisions to better address contemporary challenges in natural resource governance, such as anti-corruption, energy transition and gender equality.
3. Companies supporting the EITI
The more than 60 mining, oil and gas companies and commodity traders that support the EITI have been assessed to determine whether they meet the Expectations for companies supporting the EITI.
4. Community voices
Drawing on the experience gained in Colombia, Ghana and Indonesia, the EITI Global Report on the “Including Communities in a Just Transition” project highlighted the information needs and priorities of communities affected by extractive and energy activities, as well as ways of including them in the decisions that affect them.
5. Reporting and validation
The International Secretariat assessed 11 countries on their progress towards meeting the EITI Standard: Burkina Faso, Colombia, Côte d’Ivoire, Dominican Republic, Mozambique, Nigeria, Norway, Republic of Congo, Tanzania, Timor-Leste and Trinidad and Tobago. To date, more than 20 EITI Reports have been published this year.
6. Renewable energy governance
At COP28, the EITI and its partners launched a call for action to strengthen transparency and accountability in the renewable energy sector. The initiative builds on research into the risks of corruption undermining the global commitment to triple renewable energy capacity by 2030.
7. Ongoing support
The EITI has expanded its partnerships with the European Union and USAID to advance anti-corruption efforts and strengthen natural resource governance. At the same time, leaders from implementing and supporting countries and partner organisations reaffirmed their commitment to the EITI mission.
8. Country leadership
Argentina, Mauritania and Ukraine received the EITI Chair’s Award, which recognises countries for their outstanding leadership and commitment to the EITI.
9. Effective ownership
Thanks to the Opening Extractives programme, halfway through the five-year plan, transparency of beneficial ownership continues to be high on countries’ work agendas, and the establishment of public registers is being supported, for example in Liberia.
10. Chile
Chile, the world’s largest copper producer and second largest lithium producer, has expressed its intention to join the EITI. The Chilean company SQM, a major lithium producer, has also joined the EITI as a supporting company.
