Mexico City, 2 July 2014. The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) was today recognised as a full member of the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI).
As ‘Compliant’ with the global EITI transparency standard, citizens of DRC have access to extensive information about how their natural resources are governed. Industry, government and civil society in the country are working together to inform the debate about the management of its oil, gas and mineral resources.
The EITI International Board designated the country ‘EITI Compliant’ at its meeting in Mexico City and congratulated the Government of the DRC for its sustained commitment and leadership in the implementation of the EITI.
Clare Short, Chair of the EITI Board said: "I congratulate the DRC for becoming a full member of the EITI family. Despite all the challenges facing the country, the Congolese people have been working together to bring transparency and accountability to the management of their natural resources."
DRC's Candidate status was temporarily suspended on 18 April 2013, following the publication of the 2010 EITI Report, which was found to not meet the EITI requirements. The country has since addressed the issues that led to its suspension.
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Jonas Moberg, Head of the EITI International Secretariat said:
"There has been an extraordinary level of engagement as part of the EITI process in the DRC. The EITI cannot solve all the problems in this big country, but it is clearly bringing transparency and accountability to a complex sector that has been badly managed in the past.”
“EITI compliance does not mean that a country's natural resources are managed perfectly, but it does mean that the country has a basic and functioning process to ensure that a well-informed debate is taking place. Compliance will ensure that the DRC’s vital natural resource sector contributes to the country’s long term development. We look forward to working with our partners in the DRC to continue implementing needed reforms. Sustained political commitment is needed to continue in the right direction,” he added.
"We congratulate the Democratic Republic of Congo on their designation as an EITI Compliant Country," said Paulo de Sa, Sector Manager of the Energy & Extractives Global Practice of the World Bank. "In spite of the governance challenges the country faces, the DRC has made great strides in implementing transparency over the past few years. We look forward to continuing this work through the EITI Multi Donor Trust Fund in an effort to further the contribution of mining to poverty alleviation in the country."
The Board's decision in full
The EITI Board designates the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) as EITI Compliant and its suspension is lifted as of 2 July 2014. Having considered a review prepared by the International Secretariat, the Board agreed that the DRC had addressed the remedial actions required to meet the requirements as set out in the EITI Rules. The Board welcomed the work done by the MSG to address the Sicomines agreement in accordance with requirement 9f. The Board called on the MSG to ensure that the agreement is addressed in forthcoming EITI Reports in accordance with requirement 4.1.d of the EITI Standard. In accordance with the transitional arrangements, the DRC is encouraged to transition to the EITI Standard as soon as possible, including by updating their EITI workplan to address the necessary actions and in order to meet the deadlines set out below. In accordance with the EITI Standard:
- The DRC must be revalidated within three years i.e. Validation will commence on 2 July 2017 or earlier upon request of the multi-stakeholder group. Validation will be conducted in accordance with the EITI Standard.
- Stakeholders in the process may call for a new validation at any time within that period if they think the process needs reviewing. Where valid concerns exist that a country has become EITI Compliant, but its implementation of the EITI has subsequently fallen below the standard required for Compliance, then the Board reserves the right to require the country to undergo a new Validation or face delisting from the EITI.
- In accordance with the EITI Standard, the DRC is expected to produce EITI reports annually. EITI Reports should cover data no older than the second to last complete accounting period. The DRC is required to produce the 2012 EITI Report by 31 December 2014 in accordance with the EITI Standard.
- In accordance with requirement 7.2, the DRC is required to publish an annual report on the previous year’s activities, detailing progress in implementing the EITI. The annual report for 2014 should be published by 1 July 2015.
The Board congratulates the government of the DRC for its sustained commitment and leadership in the implementation of the EITI process. The Board also congratulates the DRC multi-stakeholder group for its efforts in promoting an informed debate for the management of the country’s vast natural resources.
Notes to Editors
- The EITI is a coalition of governments, companies, civil society groups, investors and international organisations. Learn more at www.eiti.org
- EITI is chaired by the Rt. Hon. Clare Short. Ms Short was the UK Secretary of State for International Development (1997-2003).
- 45 countries are now implementing the EITI standard, and recognised as either EITI Compliant or EITI Candidate. See the list of countries at www.eiti.org/countries.
- This decision is based on a Secretariat Review under the supervision of the Validation Committee conducted in May 2014. The Board Paper discussed in Mexico is available here.
