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The Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative, EITI, is a global initiative working to strengthen governance by promoting transparency and accountability for payments and revenues generated from the development of oil, gas and mineral resources in countries. The fundamental principle of EITI is that it is implemented through participatory multi-stakeholder approach. EITI involves a process by which the payments made by companies and revenues received by governments are published in independently verified reports. The process is overseen and governed by a multi-stakeholders working group represented from government, civil society organizations and extractive companies.
Citizens would be able to hold government accountable in the use of revenues collected from the extractive companies. A transparent system will bring conducive investment climate and attract more international investment.
The Implementation of EITI in Ethiopia is administered by a National Steering Committee, NSC, established as per the principles and criteria of the global EITI. The Ministry of Mines is the focal government organ that is responsible for the implementation of EITI. The National Steering Committee is also led by the Ministry of Mines.
The Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative Implementation Secretariat established and hosted in the Ministry of Mines and has the following main duties and responsibilities:-
- Responsible for the day to day activities of the implementation and Support the National Steering committee; coordinating the overall progress of EITI, including convening meetings of the National Steering Committee, distributing agendas and meeting papers; turn the decision of the National Steering Committee in to action.
- Develop a draft EITI work plan and implementation strategy to the National Steering Committee and follow up the implementation process.
- Develop TOR to procure auditor/reconciler that will reconcile/audit revenue and payment data declared by extractive companies and government. Manage the overall tendering process and submit for the decision of the committee.
- Based on the principles and criteria of the international EITI, develop selection criteria to identify the operations and companies that should join EITI, and follow up the mineral development of the country.
- Collect, compile, interpret and keep mineral production and revenue etc. data required for the implementation of EITI.
- Follow up the extractive companies and government revenue collecting agencies for timely provision of payment and revenue data to auditor to be audited.
- Develop communication strategy and communicate to the public and international community information on the implementation and outcomes achieved as a result of the initiative, hold workshop with stakeholders, and run press briefings on the status of EITI.
- Based on the principles and criteria of the global initiative develop the structure and content of EITI report. Publish & disseminate the report to stakeholders and the public after being approved by the National Steering Committee and the government.
- Identify capacity building requirements for the secretariat and the National Steering Committee. Communicate with different organizations to fund the capacity building required; and correspond with implementing countries and collaborating institutions and organize study tours to share experience and best practice with implementing countries.
- Organize and run workshops/trainings for extractive companies and government revenue collecting agencies on keeping data to international standards.
- Compile data of minerals produced & revenue generated by extractive companies and payments made to government, and outcomes to the community and the country; and establish a database and disseminate & publicize the data upon approval.
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