Seeking Synergy: OGP & EITI

The extractives sector is one of the sectors most prone to corruption, and also one of the most important issues tackled by Open Government PartnershipThe Open Government Partnership (OGP) is a multi-stakeholder initiative focused on improving government transparency, ensuring opportunities for citizen participation in public matters, and strengthen... More (OGP) members in their biennial action plans. These commitments are not only common – they are also important. OGP’s accountability mechanism, the (IRM), has assessed that more than one in four extractives commitments have the potential to transform business as usual, double the rate of OGP commitments in most other sectors.  

The Extractives Industry 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 pub... More Initiative (EITI) and OGP are both international multistakeholder initiatives where members take action to improve governance. EITI is a standard-setting and validation process focused exclusively on oil, gas, mining, and other extractive industriesApplying open government values of transparency, participation, and accountability to extractive industries can decrease corruption, safeguard community interests and needs, and support environmental .... OGP has fewer standards and a broader focus. These differing approaches can be mutually supportive.

OGP’s first paper focused exclusively on extractives explores how countries that are members of both the EITI and OGP can leverage both initiatives to make meaningful reforms in extractives governance. Specifically, the research reveals that countries are already using OGP to accelerate or go beyond EITI requirements in several areas, namely contracting transparency, environmental disclosures and 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... More transparency. Meanwhile other areas such as genderOGP participating governments are bringing gender perspectives to popular policy areas, ensuring diversity in participatory processes, and specifically targeting gender gaps in policies to address gov... More and civic space remain largely unaddressed between countries.

Note: This paper relies on data and findings published on or before 1 August 2019.  

The paper is available for download in English, French and Spanish.