The Board agrees on the revised Validation Prodecures

The refinements address the following issues:

1. Encouraging implementing counties to prepare for Validation by undertaking a self-assessment of adherence to the EITI Standard and to collate the documentation and other sources that demonstrate compliance. This helps to ensure that stakeholders are prepared for Validation and that the requisite documentation is readily available.

2. Clarifying the procedure MSG comments on the initial assessment and Validation Report, and providing feedback to the MSG on how those comments have been taken into account. This has been a particular concern in the 2016 Validations and is an important consideration in ensuring the quality and credibility of the process.

3. The eligibility of Independent Administrators to act as Validators. Firms that have acted as an Independent Administrator in any of the countries to be Validated are ineligible to act as Validator.
    
4. The eligibility of firms to act as Validators for consecutive term. Firms shall not be eligible to act as Validators for consecutive terms.
    
5. Confidentiality issues. The initial assessment, Validation Report and related MSG comments are confidential until the Board has reached a decision. Once the Board has reached a decision, the initial assessment and the Validation Report will be made publically available.

The Validation procedures have been updated accordingly.