Many of the former Soviet republics of Eurasia rely on natural resources for the majority of their GDP, yet it is these same countries that struggle with high levels of corruption that can prevent revenues from going where they are most needed.
The Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) was founded in 2003, with the aim of bringing transparency to the payments made by oil, gas and mining companies to governments, and improving governance and economic outcomes. Its success relies on effective multi-stakeholder engagement, bringing together extractive companies, government, and civil society at the country level.
This event explores the extent to which EITI’s activities have helped increase transparency, improve governance and expand civic space in the region, drawing on insights from current EITI implementing countries Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan, and from former EITI implementing country Azerbaijan.
It also considers how emerging EITI themes – including the continued push for beneficial ownership transparency and the role of transparency in managing climate risk and accelerating energy transition – might be reflected in governance and civil society debates across the region in the coming years.