Former New Zealand Prime Minister and UNDP Head Helen Clark Confirmed as EITI Chair Nominee

The Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative’s (EITI) Board today announced that former Prime Minister of New Zealand Helen Clark is confirmed as the nominee to chair the EITI.

The former Prime Minister will assume her position following the EITI’s Members’ Meeting [1], to be held on 17 June in Paris. Helen Clark will be replacing former Swedish Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt who has served as chair since February 2016.

The EITI is an international multi-stakeholder body that promotes the open and accountable management of oil, gas and mineral resources. It currently has 51 implementing countries.

“Helen Clark is a widely respected global leader on sustainable development and international cooperation, and I am delighted that she has been nominated to succeed me,” said Fredrik Reinfeldt. “This is an important time for the EITI, when collective governance and facts-based policy is more important than ever. Her accomplishments as Prime Minister of New Zealand and UNDP Administrator reflected her commitment to transparency, accountability and inclusiveness. I am certain she will make an enduring impact on the EITI’s work on good governance of natural resources, to ensure that the management of the sector contributes to sustainable growth and prosperity for all.”

Helen Clark served three successive terms as Prime Minister of New Zealand from 1999 - 2008. While in government, she led policy debate on a wide range of economic, social, environmental, and cultural issues, including sustainability and climate change.  She then became UNDP Administrator for two terms from 2009 - 2017 and was the first woman to lead the organisation. She was also the chair of the United Nations Development Group, a committee consisting of the heads of all UN funds, programmes and departments working on development issues.

“It is a great honour to be nominated as the next chair of the EITI,” Helen Clark said. “I am convinced that enhanced transparency and accountability in the management of the extractives sector can contribute to real improvement in people’s lives, notably in the form of economic growth, access to energy and better infrastructure, and diminished corruption. I am very much looking forward to working with governments, supporting companies and civil society organisations to ensure that the EITI delivers on its mandate, which will contribute to the accomplishment of the Sustainable Development Goals.”

EITI chairs are appointed for three-year terms. Former UK Secretary of State for International Development Clare Short and founder of Transparency International Peter Eigen have served as previous chairs.