|
Project title
|
Promoting transparency and accountability in Extractive Industries – International agenda and developing countries
|
SDC priority theme
Governance
|
|
Project no.
|
7F-09185.01
|
Country or region
Global; Country-level (in particular Bolivia, Burkina Faso, Mali, Mozambique, Afghanistan, Mongolia; potentially others)
|
|
Lead(max. 5 lines)
To avoid resource curse outcomes in developing countries, including those where Swiss companies operate and where Swiss development agencies are active, greater transparency, accountability and oversight are required. A partnership with theNatural Resource Governance Institutewill pursue this aim by advancing global transparency norms, strengthening accountability actors, and informing policymakers with evidence-based analyses for improving governance in this crucial sector. The project is relevant in particular to priority countries identified for an increased level of action by the Federal Council on March 26, 2014: Bolivia, Mali, Burkina Faso, Mozambique, Afghanistan, and Mongolia.
|
|
Context(general and related to relevant
area):
Changing how countries harness their natural resources is one of the most critical challenges in development. Switzerland, as the most important commodity trading hub worldwide and the world’s largest financial “off-shore” centre, has a responsibility and a particular interest in addressing challenges related to global natural resource use. The proposed program aims to address this challenge, focusing on efforts to strengthen transparency and accountability actors in extractive industries and commodity trade.
|
Overall goal
Effective and accountable natural resource governance across the decision chain, which enables citizens in resource-rich countries to receive greater benefits from oil, gas & mineral wealth
|
|
Key results and insights from previous phases
-
|
Outcomes (objectives) of the planned phase
- Strengthen theglobal-level normative, voluntary and regulatory mechanismsthat favor transparency in extractive and trading activities (e.g. through mandatory reporting campaigns);
- Increase the incentives forstate-owned companiesto be more accountable, including in their commodity trading operations;
- Expand theavailability and use of oil, gas and mining contractsas an input to more accountable and better informed policymaking.
- Provide a means for diverse stakeholders totrack progress and declines in EI governanceacross over 60 countries.
|
|
Key outputs of the planned phase
- Greater attention paid to EI transparency issues by targeted home governments, including Switzerland;
- Better informed campaigns in favour of home country reform
- Greater dialogue with private sector companies about transparency agenda
- SOE officials exposed to good practice ideas around openness, accountability and good governance, including around commodity trading
- Increase in activity by accountability actors aimed at improving SOE governance
- Advocacy increases in 3-5 resource rich countries in favor of contract disclosure
- Accountability actors better equipped to accurately interpret and effectively utilize what contracts are available
- Greater dialogue with private sector companies about contract disclosure and contract interpretation
- Assessment of at least 58 countries
- Increase in webpage views and diversity press coverage and mentions by key decision makers/stakeholders after launch of RGI
|
Target group/s
- Opinion leaders and standard-settersat a global level
- Reformersat country level, providing the kind of information and support that decision makers need to effectively address governance challenges
- Accountability actors(i.e. civil society organizations, parliaments and media) and mediators at country level, able to create opportunities for dialogue across stakeholder groups
|
|
Contract partner/s
Natural Resource Governance Institute, New York
|
Coordination and synergies with other projects and actors
- Country-level:ongoing activities according to country strategies
- Global level:Anti-corruption programs of GI Division (Transparency International; U4-Anti Corruption Resource Centre); IDS; Columbia Center for Sustainable Investment
|
