{"id":531,"date":"2014-10-30T13:27:18","date_gmt":"2014-10-30T09:27:18","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/eiti.org.ua\/?p=531"},"modified":"2014-10-30T13:28:30","modified_gmt":"2014-10-30T09:28:30","slug":"an-intense-drive-ten-years-on-eurasian-stakeholders-continue-push-for-extractive-sector-transparency","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/eiti.org.ua\/en\/2014\/10\/an-intense-drive-ten-years-on-eurasian-stakeholders-continue-push-for-extractive-sector-transparency\/","title":{"rendered":"“An Intense Drive”: Ten Years On, Eurasian Stakeholders Continue Push for Extractive Sector Transparency"},"content":{"rendered":"

Recently civil society organizations (CSOs) from eight Eurasian countries gathered in Istanbul for a regional meeting of extractive sector governance stakeholders, preceded by a two-day training organized by the Natural Resource Governance Institute (NRGI) and the\u00a0Publish What You Pay<\/a>\u00a0secretariat (PWYP).<\/p>\n

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This meeting had a distinct spirit about it. First of all, it marked ten years since CSOs from the region first came together to share ideas and plans for initiating transparency and accountability movements in their countries. Looking back and taking stock of milestones over the ten-year journey\u2014an intense drive for transparency in the extractive sector\u2014CSOs celebrated many achievements. They also discussed challenges posed by current geopolitical trends, such as the alarming change in governments’ attitudes toward independent civil society in the region.<\/p>\n

Perhaps the most remarkable achievement to date has been the mobilization of CSOs at the forefront of the\u00a0Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative<\/a>\u00a0(EITI), in many cases becoming the driving force behind governments\u2019 decisions to sign up. Moreover, civil society has remained throughout the process a genuinely independent voice for and champion of effective EITI implementation.<\/p>\n

For example, in Albania, one of the first countries to issue an EITI report based on the new standard, CSOs actively participated in the analyses of EITI reports and planned to get more deeply involved. (See Q&A with Albania\u2019s Ilir Aliaj.<\/a>) Likewise in Ukraine, CSOs contributed greatly to the development of a working plan and built public awareness of EITI. (See Q&A with Ukraine\u2019s Olena Pavlenko.<\/a>) However, it was clear at the recent meeting that future EITI reporting in Ukraine would be postponed due to changing politics and priorities in the country.<\/p>\n

Such problems are not unique to Ukraine. Despite years of helping governments benefit from EITI implementation, CSOs throughout Eurasia have come under unprecedented pressure. As noted by many at the meeting, the continued Russia-Ukraine crisis\u2014a standoff between different sets of values (openness and democracy versus closed society and autocracy)\u2014has had effects on the whole region. Indeed, close geographical proximity to this push-and-pull geopolitical chess game in Eurasia has clearly heightened governments\u2019 sense of caution toward critical and independent voices. Even the more democratic governments of Mongolia and Kyrgyzstan have not bucked the trend.<\/p>\n

The most illustrative case is certainly that of Azerbaijan, whose EITI compliant status will be<\/span>reviewed<\/a>\u00a0in February by the EITI International Board. At the regional meeting, country representatives shared reports of intimidation and aggression toward foreign-funded CSOs. Independent organizations are not only being prosecuted on cooked-up charges, they say, but their honest and dedicated work is being discredited by the government. (<\/span>See Q&A with Azerbaijan\u2019s Gubad Ibadoglu.<\/a>)<\/span><\/div>\n
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NRGI shares the views expressed by participants at the regional meeting\u2014that if governments fail to end these dangerous trends, EITI cannot maintain the multi-stakeholder approach that has formed the initiative\u2019s core since its founding, nor can EITI contribute positively to natural resource governance, where effective oversight by civil society is critical. Working with counterparts and partners throughout Eurasia, NRGI will continue to assist with capacity development, institutional support and international advocacy, especially in countries where CSOs remain genuine and dedicated stakeholders in the drive towards extractive sector transparency and accountability.<\/p>\n

Galib Efendiev is NRGI\u2019s Eurasia regional coordinator.<\/i><\/p>\n

Natural Resource Governance Institute<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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