BY LORETTA B MANELE
The UN Development Programme (UNDP) and the British High Commission in Honiara held a successful Training of Trainers (ToT) Programme for Civil Society Umbrella Group on Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) Implementation, Monitoring and Reporting in Solomon Islands.
A statement from UNDP yesterday said the programme held earlier this month, on June 5 was attended by representatives from civil society in Solomon Islands alongside key partners and stakeholders.
This programme is regarded to be both a practical and timely step in strengthening transparency, accountability and inclusive participation in the governance of Solomon Islands’ extractive sector.
UNDP said EITI is a global standard for promoting open and accountable management of oil, gas, and mineral resources.
“Countries that adopt the EITI standard commit to full disclosure of the revenues governments receive from extractive companies, the payments those companies make to government, and how those revenues flow through public finances,” said UNDP.
UNDP highlighted that the core principle is that citizens should be able to see what their natural resources are worth, what companies are paying to extract them, and where that money goes.
Melissa Williams, Deputy British High Commissioner to Solomon Islands said the training served as an important opportunity to strengthen the role of civil society with the EITI; promoting transparency, accountability and informed public dialogue in the extractive sector.
“It brings together partners and stakeholders at a timely moment, as Solomon Islands works to reinforce the systems, capacities and relationships needed for more effective governance of natural resources,” she said.
Williams also said the programme is especially important as it focuses on the role of civil society.
“Effective transparency does not begin and end with institutions publishing information. It becomes meaningful when people are able to understand that information, ask informed questions, identify concerns, and engage constructively in public discussion,” she said.
Florica Dragomir, UNDP Pacific Office Project Lead for EITI in Solomon Islands emphasised on the work of EITI and UNDP’s role.
“The Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative provides a globally recognised framework for ensuring that the revenues governments receive from extractive industries are visible, verifiable, and publicly accountable. But the framework only works if civil society is genuinely at the table, not as observers but as active participants in scrutinising the data and demanding accountability.
“UNDP’s role is to help build the institutional architecture for that process and to ensure that the communities most affected by extractive activity have the capacity and the access to make transparency meaningful rather than procedural,” she said.
The statement said support to Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) in Solomon Islands is made possible thanks to the people and Government of the United Kingdom.
Photo credit: UNDP
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