EITI: The Case for Company-by-Company Reporting
 |
|
Download: Save and Print the Full Text of EITI: The Case for Company-by-Company Reporting (pdf, 461 KB) |  (pdf, 555 KB) |
Since the inception of the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI), the reporting method for company payments to governments has been one of the most contentious issues, specifically, whether disclosures should be made on a disaggregated, company-by-company basis or in aggregated form, without company-specific breakdowns.
In this Revenue Watch report, author Sefton Darby lays out the most common arguments for an aggregated reporting standard, details the weaknesses of each argument, and presents several arguments that civil society groups can use when presenting company-by-company reporting as the preferable alternative to both government and extractive industry officials.
Supporters of aggregated reporting have argued variously that the EITI is more focused on government revenue than company payments; that disaggregated reporting is not best for citizen comprehension or satisfaction; that disclosure of company payments does not help combat corruption; and that disaggregation undermines companies' confidentiality and their competitive edge, among other claims.
Darby addresses each of these assertions and provides background and expert knowledge for transparency advocates as they promote the disaggregated reporting option. The report finds that not only is there little substance to many of these arguments, but that a disaggregated approach shows clear benefits to EITI stakeholders.
Almost half of the countries currently producing EITI reports already do so in a disaggregated manner. Companies operating in those countries tend to be neutral on the issue. Only a small number of companies are actively engaged in arguing for aggregated disclosure, and even those companies have accepted disaggregated disclosure in countries where the government has decided to adopt such an approach.
Sefton Darby is a veteran EITI advocate who has worked in numerous implementing countries as they determine how best to meet EITI requirements and adapt those requirements to specific national needs.
Download the full report ... (pdf, 461 KB) | (pdf, 555 KB)
LEARN MORE
U.S. Said to Allow Drilling Without Needed Permits - The New York Times
Australia Gas Deal Renews Tension - Financial Times
Charged With Fraud, Nigeria's Ruling Party Leader Resigns - Reuters
Western Senators Propose Ban on Pacific Drilling - The New York Times
To Limit Corruption around Mining in Africa, Follow the Money - The Globe and Mail
Court Backs Oil Project - The New York Times
Transparency Increases, But There Is Still a Long Way to Go - The Phnom Penh Post
IMF Develops Project to Help Africa Deal with Illicit Trade - African Manager
Three-day Conference on Africa's Natural Resources Starts in Tanzania - Standard Times Press
After Oil Rig Blast, BP Refused to Share Underwater Spill Footage - ABC News
Finger-Pointing, but Few Answers at Hearings on Drilling - The New York Times
Complaints Over U.N. Prize Sponsored by Equatorial Guinea's Obiang - Reuters
Guide: Community-Company Grievance Resolution for Australian Mining Industry - Oxfam Australia (pdf)
Cote D'Ivoire: President for Life, and Then Some - The New York Times
In Midst of Massive Spill, Oil Industry Fighting Transparency and Accountability - Oxfam America
Leaked Oil Contracts in DRC Threaten Resource Wars and $10 Billion Rip-Off by British Company - Carbon Web
Contracts Confidential: Ending Secret Deals in the Extractive Industries
Contract transparency is sorely needed to improve the management of natural resource wealth. In a new report from RWI, authors Peter Rosenblum and Susan Maples delve into government and private sector objections to contract disclosure and make conclusions about what information may legitimately and reasonably be kept confidential, and how civil society institutions can better confront the challenge of secret deals.
Learn more about the report ...
NEW TRANSLATION: Revenue Redistribution at the Local Level
Many resource-rich countries are attempting to compensate their producing regions through shares of resource revenues to be spent at the local level. In "Extractive Industries Revenues Distribution at the Sub-National Level," development economics consultant Matteo Morgandi presents a comparative analysis of international legislation for distribution of extractive revenues from across all levels of government. Prepared at the request of the Peruvian National Congress, the report studies the legislative practices of seven resource-rich countries to identify potential and address challenges. Please note that this report is now also available in Vietnamese.
Learn more ...