Terms of Reference: Rapid Response Committee

The Rapid Response Committee was set up at the 4th EITI Board Meeting in Accra on 22 February 2008, to “develop a proposed framework for EITI rapid responses to political developments". The Committee was originally established to address concerns by some civil society members that “the EITI Board should be able to respond quickly to cases in which civil society or other stakeholders were excluded from playing a fully active role in monitoring revenue transparency”. The Committee has met on an ad-hoc basis, often on short notice, and has been used by the Board to address a variety of concerns where a rapid response was considered necessary. This has included outbreaks of civil war (Yemen), particularly serious or time-sensitive allegations of civil society space being constrained (Ethiopia), or other time-sensitive events or decisions that have threatened to derail implementation (Liberia). The Committee has often served to keep the Board informed of events in real-time in between Board discussions of implementation progress reports, Validation and Board circulars, as well as providing guidance to the International Secretariat and regularly monitor events.

On behalf of the EITI Board, the Rapid Response Committee shall consider developments in implementing countries of a particularly serious and time-sensitive nature. Any Board member can request that a case be considered by the Rapid Response Committee. The International Secretariat may also bring cases to the attention of the Committee if there is a concern that implementation of the EITI Standard in the country is at risk and a rapid response is needed. As far as possible, the Rapid Response Committee will prioritise gaining a full understanding of the situation and of the implications of different courses of action.

The Committee can recommend specific actions to the Board, taking into account the Board’s mandate to “act in the best interests of the EITI Association at all times” (Article 12.1 of the Articles of Association). It can also decide to remain informed of the situation and may recommend that the International Secretariat consider specific actions as part of its regular support to implementation. The Committee does not take decisions on behalf of the EITI Board. The activities of the Committee shall be reported to the Board as part of the International Secretariat’s regular implementation progress reports and Validations. Due to the ad-hoc nature of this Committee, the Rapid Response Committee does not agree work plans like other EITI Board committees do.

The Rapid Response Committee was renewed through Board Circular 339. The members are listed on this page.

The Committee follows the EITI Observer Policy for EITI committees as approved in December 2022. 

The Committee also follows the EITI Board’s Policy on quorum for committees as established at its 18^th EITI Board meeting in Jakarta in 2011 and reaffirmed in 2014:

For a meeting to be considered quorate, each constituency should have at least one member present and there should be at least one member from implementing countries. If a meeting is not quorate, decisions may be taken by correspondence on a no-objection basis following the circulation of meeting minutes. Any committee follows the Board-endorsed “Good practices for committee calls”, available on pages 10 and 11 of the EITI Board manual, including deadlines for the submission of papers and individual responsibilities of committee members.

The Committee follows the EITI’s Openness Policy. Committee members should be judicious in their sharing of the internal working documents of the Committee, which are not considered public in accordance with provision 4 of the EITI Openness policy.

Members of the Rapid Response Committee are expected to familiarise themselves with – and abide by – the EITI Association Code of Conduct.