EITI - the Hart Group approach

EITI aims to put certain information about financial and in-kind transactions in the extractive industries into the public domain. It is a first step on the path to improving the governance of such revenues. Data on extractive revenues provide a base from which civil society may begin to hold governments to account for their stewardship of that income.

EITI requires companies operating in the sector to disclose payments to an independent accountant that reconciles the figures with data provided by the host government.

Countries have found it beneficial internationally and domestically to be able to say they are implementing EITI. The validation process is designed to assess whether a country is doing what it says it is doing. Each implementing or candidate country requires a validation periodically.

We have been approved to act as EITI validators. We view validation as a constructive process which will highlight achievements but also point the way forward if there are aspects of the EITI process which have not yet measured up to the EITI standard.

Hart Group has a great depth of EITI experience from which we are able to provide helpful advice on EITI implementation. We make recommendations about priorities, resources and technical issues.

A validation may conclude that a country has fulfilled the EITI criteria or is at a stage of progress towards fulfilment. The emphasis throughout is on consultation and positive encouragement in the EITI implementation process. There is no standard way to implement EITI: each country needs to interpret the EITI principles and criteria and develop an application that without compromising the overriding objectives, suits its own culture and environment.