March 2005, UK Department for International Development (DFID)
In many countries, money from oil, gas and mining is associated with poverty, conflict and corruption. Commonly referred to as the “resource curse”, this is often driven by a lack of transparency and accountability around the payments that companies are making to governments, and the revenues that governments are receiving from those companies. The Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) seeks to create that missing transparency and accountability. It is a voluntary initiative, supported by a coalition of companies, governments, investors and civil society organisations. Alongside other efforts to improve transparency in government budget practice, the EITI begins a process whereby citizens can hold their governments to account for the use of those revenues.
Drawing on the experiences gathered during the EITI pilot phase, this source book is an illustrative guide to assist countries wishing to implement the initiative, and companies and other stakeholders wishing to support implementation.
Chapter 1 gives a brief description of the development of the EITI from the launch at the World Summit for Sustainable Development in 2002, through the pilot phase (June 2003 – March 2005) until the present implementation phase (March 2005 onwards). It sets out the EITI Principles and Criteria which are the core of EITI implementation for all participating countries.
Chapter 2 provides examples of actions that countries have taken during the pilot phase and which are both consistent with the EITI Principles and Criteria and reflect country-specific circumstances.
Chapter 3 contains similar examples for companies that are supporting EITI implementation.
