Review of recommendations arising from EITI reporting

EITI Secretariat paper, 5 June 2015.

Summary

The nature of the recommendations in EITI Reports, i.e. whether oriented towards improving how the extractive sector is managed or improving the EITI reporting process, and the extent to which the recommendations are followed up by the MSG and the government significantly influences the impact of EITI implementation on reform. In many countries, including for example DRC or Mongolia, EITI Reports have been a useful diagnostic tool highlighting weaknesses in government systems. In some cases, such as Ghana or Nigeria, EITI Reports have made recommendations aimed at addressing such weaknesses and improving sector management, and are thus making an important potential contribution to policy reform and change. However, in most countries, recommendations are oriented towards improving technical aspects of the EITI reporting process such as reporting templates or data collection for EITI reports rather than improving e.g. extractive sector legislation or tax collection systems

This note summarises the findings of a review of recommendations contained in EITI reports from a sample of countries, aimed at contributing to inform the EITI Board’s wider discussion of the impact of the EITI. It also suggests five actions that the EITI might consider in order to help ensure that EITI reporting yields useful recommendations that may have an impact on improving extractive sector governance in implementing countries.