Validation review 2020

Publisher: EITI International Secretariat

October 2019

Validation is the EITI’s quality assurance process. It assesses performance and promotes dialogue and learning at the country level. It also safeguards the integrity of the EITI by holding implementing countries to the same global standard, by providing an impartial assessment of whether EITI implementation in a country is in line with the provisions of the EITI Standard. More information on Validation can be found here.

The EITI’s first Validation guide was introduced in 2006. Subsequently, several changes have been made to Validation procedures. In October 2020, the EITI Board agreed the outline for a new Validation model. In December 2020, the EITI Board agreed a revised Validation guide and procedure.

The latest evolution of the EITI’s Validation model upholds the EITI Standard, while supporting countries in using Validation as a tool to improve extractive sector management. Changes to the model place emphasis on progress made by countries to meet the requirements of the EITI Standard by publishing data through government and company systems.

Background of the review

The EITI Board initiated the review of Validation at the 45th EITI Board meeting in October 2019. The Board agreed the review would focus on:

Ensuring that Validation encouraged continued progress, reflected each country’s priorities and enhanced the impact of EITI implementation, while upholding the integrity of the EITI Standard. Data from 2016-2019 Validations showed that countries progressed in implementing the EITI Standard. However, stakeholders expressed views that Validation should better reflect the diversity of implementing countries’ circumstances and the impact of EITI implementation. The need to maintain consistent, objective treatment across countries was also raised. As a growing number of countries achieved overall ‘satisfactory progress’, encouraging further progress was an emerging challenge.
Considering who undertakes Validation and how it is resourced, with a view to ensuring financial sustainability, the timely execution of Validations and sufficient resources for implementation support. Options that Validation Committee members raised included regional and peer reviews, fully outsourcing Validation to a third party, increased focus on pre-Validation self-assessments and less frequent Validations.
Considering the structure and timing of Validation, including the assessment of individual requirements, the overall assessment of progress and consequences of Validation. Options that Validation Committee members raised included introducing a level of progress between ‘meaningful’ and ‘satisfactory’ progress and allowing the multi-stakeholder group more flexibility to determine whether gaps are material. Thematic or regional Validations were also considered.
Reviewing the Validation of the civil society protocol. The Validation Committee discussed the interpretation of the protocol and whether the methodology for assessing civil society engagement was adequate for safeguarding civic space in the EITI and encouraging progress. The review reconsidered whether the same Validation framework was suitable for assessing both disclosure provisions and requirements on stakeholder engagement.

Consultation and results

From December 2019 - January 2020, an open consultation to all stakeholders was held on the future of EITI Validation. The results of the consultation served as the basis for the new model that was agreed in December 2020. Additionally, targeted consultations with civil society, implementing countries and supporting companies were undertaken from May to July 2020.