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Driving impact

Outcomes and impact of EITI implementation

The EITI is the global standard for transparency and accountability in the oil, gas and mining sectors, and supports national stakeholders in implementing extractive sector reforms. By promoting collaboration in multi-stakeholder groups, data and debate can be leveraged to strengthen extractive sector governance.

Independent and peer-reviewed research has demonstrated how this can contribute to national outcomes including an improved investment climate, increased tax revenue, economic development, governance reform, mitigating corruption and building accountability in resource governance.

Specific outcomes will vary across country contexts, as the unique structure of the EITI enables multi-stakeholder groups to align their activities with national priorities when planning EITI implementation. Validation of national EITI implementation demonstrates how multi-stakeholder dialogue and systematic disclosure contribute to governance outcomes, long-term impacts and shaping global norms.

Independent evaluation

An independent evaluation of the EITI, concluded in November 2022, examined the organisation’s relevance, effectiveness, impact and sustainability.

Data, debate and trust-building

The EITI’s contribution begins with reflection and debate in national multi-stakeholder groups, based on data that is made transparent through implementation of the EITI Standard. Representatives from government, industry and civil society collaborate to determine how to improve transparency and public debate further and what policies may support this process. In many countries, simply initiating productive dialogue and public engagement can be a critical and game-changing milestone to build trust.

Independent and peer-reviewed research suggests that EITI implementation has a positive effect on public trust in government. 

Informed dialogue and transparent management of information… adds to the generation of an environment of trust between the State, companies and civil society.


Governance outcomes

By strengthening information and awareness about how national resources are governed, the EITI provides the foundation for implementing countries to identify weaknesses, strengthen processes, and maximise the positive impact of the extractive industries.

Depending on national contexts and the focus of multi-stakeholder groups, this might involve reforms to legislation, recovery of financial assets, improving government systems, or identifying and addressing instances of corruption. 

Independent research has documented how EITI implementation can help to strengthen ongoing reform efforts in specific country contexts, for example in Latin America, Myanmar and Indonesia. Validation assessments provide rich contextual analyses of how these changes occur, and document EITI contributions to a variety of outcomes, including legal reform, improved government processes, and increased participation in extractives governance. 

So far, measurable impacts such as regular reporting, recovery of huge revenues to the tune of over USD 2.4 billion into the Federation account.

Zainab Ahmed, Nigerian Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning
EITI REQUIREMENTS

To support disclosure requirements under the EITI Standard, countries create an annual work plan (Requirement 1.5) which sets their objectives for EITI implementation over a given timeframe. Countries review and report on the outcomes and impact of implementation in consultation with stakeholders (Requirement 7.4). This cyclical process helps national stakeholders learn from what works, and adapt implementation each year to build towards better outputs, outcomes, and eventual impacts.


Long-term impacts

Medium-term outcomes, such as legal reforms and public engagement on extractives governance, provide the building blocks for EITI implementation to contribute to long-term impact. In the long-term, these outcomes can improve their investment climate and strengthen domestic resource mobilisation, which ultimately help ensure that natural resources benefit citizens and contribute to development.

Independent research has demonstrated EITI contributions to long-term impacts – related to economic development, access to global markets and foreign direct investment – and suggests that more time might be necessary before evaluating contributions to socio-economic development impacts like poverty reduction. Research has also suggested that sub-goals may provide a more accurate reflection of EITI effectiveness.


Shaping global norms

Continuous improvements, innovations and best practices in EITI implementation help the EITI evolve over time. The experiences of EITI implementing countries provide knowledge on how transparency and collaboration can drive governance reform and impact. Such experiences position the EITI internationally to shape global norms in extractive sector governance. 

A review of 50 evaluations concludes that the EITI has succeeded in diffusing the norm of transparency.


Learning from results

By more effectively measuring and monitoring how EITI implementation contributes to short-term outcomes and long-term impacts, stakeholders can learn about what works and doesn’t work in different contexts. Ongoing monitoring and learning helps implementing countries and the EITI globally continually strengthen EITI implementation and deliver results. 

To progress the EITI’s work on learning and evaluation further, the EITI Board identified measuring impact as one of its strategic priorities. The EITI is strengthening its monitoring and learning capacities further by undertaking an independent evaluation of the EITI and enhancing its support to implementing countries on work planning, monitoring and evaluation.  

EITI Progress Report

Our flagship EITI Progress Report 2022 highlights practices and innovations in reporting and data use by EITI implementing countries and partners.