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Engaging communities in a just transition: EITI launches new project in Colombia, Ghana and Indonesia

The project sheds light on how the energy transition is impacting livelihoods in communities living near mining and energy projects.

This month, the EITI launched the “Engaging communities in a just transition” project with support from the Ford Foundation. The project sheds light on how the energy transition is impacting livelihoods in communities living near extractive industries and energy projects and aims to amplify the voices of local stakeholders in the energy transition.

Global efforts to fight climate change are reshaping the extractive industries and energy sectors and are having deep implications for livelihoods in local communities. Shifting fossil fuel demand, volatility in critical minerals markets and the widespread deployment of renewable energy projects are creating a new urgency for accountability and good governance in EITI implementing countries.

The “Engaging communities in a just transition” project will explore the obstacles local communities face in accessing and using information on the extractive industries and energy projects impacting their lives. The energy transition potentially has profound implications for subnational revenue flows, jobs, community investments and environmental and social impact. Shedding light on this lies at the heart of the EITI’s mandate. The project will engage a broad range of stakeholders to identify data gaps and show how disclosures and dialogue can help to ensure the interests of communities are better represented in public debate and policymaking. 

“The energy transition presents important opportunities for communities living near mining and energy projects – but also significant challenges,” said Mark Robinson, EITI Executive Director. “Regardless of whether we are talking about fossil fuel production, critical minerals mines or renewable energy projects, we need to ensure that the stakeholders whose livelihoods are directly impacted – including the most vulnerable – have a voice in policymaking. We are confident that this project will help to demonstrate how data disclosures and multi-stakeholder dialogue in the energy and mining sector can help to deliver a just transition.”

The project will be implemented in Colombia, Ghana and Indonesia over a two-year period. In Colombia, the project will work in the departments of Cesar and La Guajira, which have historically hosted the country’s largest coal mines but also have strong renewables potential. In Ghana, the project focuses on Ellembelle district, a hub for natural gas production, which the Ghanaian government views as a key transition fuel for domestic electricity generation. In Indonesia, the EITI will engage in North Morowali Regency, an important location for the country’s nickel industry, which is anticipated to experience strong demand growth due to the mineral’s use in a range of low-carbon technologies.

The “Engaging communities in a just transition” project will be managed by the EITI’s International Secretariat, with national consultants leading implementation in close collaboration with the EITI’s national secretariats and multi-stakeholder groups.

The project builds on a 2020 scoping study in Colombia, Ghana and Indonesia which identified opportunities to broaden and deepen local civil society engagement in natural resource governance through the EITI. The initial scoping work was also supported by the Ford Foundation.

Read more about the project in the  English, Bahasa and Spanish factsheets.