From Transparency to Action: A Call for Reform in the Extractive Sector

In October, government, business, and civil society leaders will meet in Brussels at the EITI Global Conference as the Open Government Partnership marks its 15th anniversary. Beyond speeches, we are calling on global leaders from countries participating in both the EITI and OGP to commit to one meaningful reform that strengthens how natural resources are governed. The goal is to make the sector more transparent, accountable and responsible, give people a real say in decisions, and make it easier to hold leaders and companies to account.

The race for the minerals that power modern technology is intensifying. Volatile commodity prices are putting pressure on countries that depend on mining, oil, or gas revenues. Huge sums are moving into new energy projects, often faster than systems of public oversight can keep pace. At the same time, trust in government is falling and the space for public scrutiny is shrinking.

Choices made today will shape economies, communities, and the environment for decades. The EITI and OGP offer complementary tools for turning transparencyAccording to OGP’s Articles of Governance, transparency occurs when “government-held information (including on activities and decisions) is open, comprehensive, timely, freely available to the public,... More into reform: EITI provides a sector-specific standard, data and multi-stakeholder processes, while OGP helps governments and civil society translate reform priorities into public commitments.

Ahead of the EITI Global Conference, the big question is this: what issues should be focused on? Five priorities stand out.

1. Double down on the fight against corruption

Good governance is facing global headwinds. Governments should step up efforts to prevent conflicts of interestA key part of anti-corruption involves preventing or revealing conflicts of interest — when a public official is in a position to use public office for personal or private gain. Technical specificatio..., including by publishing contracts, licenses and company ownership information. .

There is already a strong foundation to build on. have used OGP commitments to advance beneficial ownershipDisclosing beneficial owners — those who ultimately control or profit from a business — is essential for combating corruption, stemming illicit financial flows, and fighting tax evasion. Technical spe... More transparency in the extractive sector and beyond. Armenia has gone further by linking ownership information to its online public procurementTransparency in the procurement process can help combat corruption and waste that plagues a significant portion of public procurement budgets globally. Technical specifications: Commitments that aim t... More system, thus making conflicts of interest easier to identify.

2. Manage revenues responsibly for sustainable development

Transparency matters most when it leads to better outcomes for citizens. In a context of shrinking aidMore and better information about aid helps partner countries and donor institutions plan and manage aid resources more effectively, parliaments and civil society to hold governments accountable for t... budgets, mounting debtOpenly disclosing information about government debt enables informed decision-making, mitigates the risk of financial instability, and allows citizens to hold their governments accountable for respons... More and volatile commodity markets, governments have an even greater reason to ensure that natural resource revenues are collected and managed effectively.

The EITI’s From Resources to Revenues report shows how transparency can help strengthen public finances. In Ghana, analysis commissioned through the EITI found that a proposed mining deal substantially undervalued expected revenues. It contributed to reforms that preserved hundreds of millions of dollars in public revenue.

3. Navigate the energyEnsuring universal access to sustainable, dependable, and affordable energy is critical to every aspect of prosperity. Increasing public oversight and transparency in the energy sector can help to ens... More transition openly

Rising demand for critical minerals creates opportunities for jobs, revenues and investment. It also creates familiar risks: opaque deals, undue influence, conflicts of interest, and environmental harm. Oil and gas producing countries face different challenges as demand and price volatility affect revenues, workers, and communities.

The EITI Standard gives countries practical tools to navigate these changes, while OGP’s  Countering Obstruction and Policy Capture in the Energy Transition highlights how governments can guard against undue influence and weak oversight. Commitments in this area can also support the Open Gov Challenge on climate and the environment.

4.  Protect civic space

The EITI and OGP share a fundamental principle: civil society must be free to participate, ask questions, and challenge decisions. Yet this space is under growing pressure, and defending it is a shared priority.

In 2026, the EITI Board reaffirmed the importance of safeguarding civic space. Governments can translate that principle into action by removing barriers to participation, strengthening safeguards for civic groups, or joining OGP’s Civic Space Lab.

Experience shows what sustained engagement can achieve. In the Philippines, the OGP process helped rebuild trust between government and civil society and reinvigorate commitments to EITI implementation. The Dominican Republic has meanwhile co-created a National Civic Space Strategy with civil society, helping citizens track public spending and giving marginalized groups a more meaningful way to shape policy and budgets.

5. Give communities a stronger voice

People living near extractive projects often experience their impacts more directly. They need access to relevant information and meaningful opportunities to participate in decisions about projects, revenues and environmental and social impacts. The EITI’s new community engagement toolkit provides practical guidance for doing this. The OGP Local initiative brings together over 150 local governments and civil society partners working to make government more transparent, participatory, and accountable, offering lessons for the extractive sector.

Women and marginalized groups also need a stronger voice in extractive sector governance. While OGP commitments on gender and inclusion are becoming more common, progress remains uneven. The EITI’s recent analysis on gender inclusion similarly found that EITI multi-stakeholder groups are becoming more diverse and the disclosure of gender-disaggregated data is increasing, but significant gaps remain.

Call to action

Transparency alone does not deliver better governance. Its value comes when people can use information, participate in decisions, and hold those in power to account. EITI and OGP countries now have an opportunity to turn those principles into tangible reform.

Our ask to global leaders convening in Brussels is simple: choose one meaningful reform that can make natural resource governance more transparent, accountable, inclusive, and responsible – and commit to making it happen.

Find out more about the 2026 EITI Global Conference here.