BO, Anti-corruption Tops Focus As Liberia, Sierra Leone End Week-long Peer Learning On EITI Implementation
By Stephanie Odiase
Liberia and Sierra Leone has ended a week-long Peer Learning Exchange on the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) implementation with a focus on notable signs of progress, challenges, and prospects; documenting lessons learned for both countries as they continue to implement the 2023 EITI Standard, respectively.
The Liberian Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (LEITI) welcomed the team from Sierra Leone to Monrovia on May 6, for the week-long peer exchange and learning exercise. Institutions on the team from Sierra Leone included the Sierra Leone Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (SLEITI), Financial Intelligence Unit, Corporate Affairs Commission, National Revenue Authority, Ministry of Mines and Mineral Resources, National Minerals Agency, and civil society representatives from the National Advocacy Coalition on Extractives and Network Movement for Justice and Development.
The peer learning and exchange event highlighted the 2023 EITI Standard, specifically focusing on Beneficial Ownership (BO), Contract Transparency, and Anti-Corruption; three EITI requirements that Liberia has shown strong implementation progress towards. The event also highlighted Sierra Leone’s unique methods of dissemination and the involvement of local authorities in the decision making processes around the administration of the extractive sector.
According to a statement jointly signed by both countries and made available to Extractive360, at the end of the event, the team from Sierra Leone agreed adopt a number of practices from the Liberian counterpart, which includes strengthening institutional collaboration around BO as it is with the case of Liberia National Steering Committee on Beneficial Ownership.
They also plan to propose to the Multi-Stakeholders Group and the government the need to conduct scoping studies for the inclusion of the Forestry and Agriculture Sectors under the EITI reporting framework in Sierra Leone; as well as work together to obtain a stronger political commitment for deeper implementation as it is with the case of Liberia.
The Sierra Leone team also agreed to increase the advocacy around the enactment of the SLEITI Bill as it is with the case of Liberia; as well as to strengthen working relationship with the Sierra Leone Anti-Corruption Commission and Civil Society Organizations to create awareness and collaborate around investigation of possible cases of corruption in the extractive sector as it is with the case of Liberia.
Also very importantly, the team agreed to begin the preparation of an annual work plan to guide the implementation of Sierra Leone’s BO implementation as well as begin the adoption and application of the Open Ownership Nine Principles around BO implementation.
Furthermore, the team has agreed to create a version of LEITI’s Simplified Contract Matrix to inform citizens about the terms and conditions of various concessions and contracts that they can use to hold concessionaires and national leaders accountable; and to advocate for the inclusion of the SLEITI into the country’s Financial Crimes Working Group.
The team also agreed to ensure that the SLEITI MSG adopt an enforcement and compliance regulation as it is with the case of LEITI’s MSG Regulation 001; and to work collaboratively for the development of a National Beneficial Ownership Regulation.
Liberia, on the other hand, has documented three key takeaways from the event by deciding to advance the inclusion a Braille version of EITI summary reports for dissemination as being implemented by SLEITI.
The LEITI team also agreed to create a platform that involve strong local authorities in decision making around extractive sector governance, as it is with the case of Sierra Leone; and to adopt the process of using senior level officials outside the MSG to launch each EITI report upon approval by the MSG, as done by SLEITI.
The statement signed jointly by Mr. Jeffrey N. Yates and Mr. Mohammed B. Koroma, National Coordinators of Liberia and Sierra Leone EITI Secretariats, respectively, strongly expressed confidence that the peer exchange and learning event will objectively impact their respective country EITI implementation activities.
“Accordingly, the completion of the event has further strengthened the outlook for EITI implementation in both countries, as participants shed light on adoptive methods of implementing EITI within their respective governance structures. The Sierra Leone visit demonstrates Liberia’s significant progress in implementing the EITI Standard and Principles over the years. Similarly, Sierra Leone obtained a high score in its last EITI validation, demonstrating strong commitment to adhering to the EITI Standard and Principles,” the statement said.
“The week-long event has not only presented a perfect opportunity for these sisterly countries to harness more future engagements for their mutual benefit but has also strengthened the already existing ties between Liberia and Sierra Leone EITI. We intend to remain engaged henceforth,” they added while appreciating the GIZ Re-Go Project co-funded by the European Union and BMZ for the sponsorship of the event.
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