March 2019 News and Analysis from NRGI
Highlights
Major enhancements of the global norms governing transparency in natural resources are afoot. As the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative international board meeting in Kyiv concluded, board members representing governments, companies and civil society actors broadly agreed upon historic revisions to the EITI Standard.
Presenting the New and Improved ResearchProjects.org
The latest version of ResourceProjects.org is now live, with several new features and data. (Above, screenshot of tables showing the top projects and government agencies (by payment) for Royal Dutch Shell PLC.)
Open Data Offers New Potential to Enhance Governance of State-Owned Enterprises
State-owned enterprises sit at the center of economic decision-making in many countries. Some have thrived, but many suffer from commercial and governance challenges. NRGI's Patrick Heller shared some insights on national oil companies at the OECD Anticorruption and Integrity Forum last week; watch the video here.
Events
Taxing to Develop: International Taxation Challenges for Africa
This 14 April conference in Washington, D.C., will focus on tax issues in African countries. NRGI's Thomas Lassourd will discuss multinationals operating in the continent's mining sector.
Third Interdisciplinary Sovereign Debt Research and Management Conference
NRGI's David Mihalyi will speak at this event on 12 April. Registration is open.
3ie and IEG Conference on Citizen Engagement and Accountable Government
NRGI president and CEO Daniel Kaufmann will speak at this one-day conference on citizen engagement and accountable government in Washington, D.C., on 8 April. Register to attend, or watch the webcast.
Natural Resources for Sustainable Development 2019
Natural resources represent a potentially transformational opportunity to support development but are ultimately finite. How do we make the most of them without destroying the planet? In this free 12-week online course, starting 5 May and produced by the Natural Resource Governance Institute, the Columbia Center on Sustainable Investment and the World Bank, participants will learn about efforts to sustainably manage extractive industry investments.
Video
NRGI's Daniel Kaufmann Discusses Governance, State Capture and Corruption
Daniel Kaufmann discussed the most pressing trends in governance and corruption, focusing on recent evidence and discussing the phenomenon of state capture, in separate events in London and Istanbul.
Blog
Kenya Proposes Transparent, but Risky, New Sovereign Wealth Fund
A risky fund might leave Kenya worse off than no fund at all.
Governments, Companies Find Some Common Ground on Resource Nationalism at Indaba
Over the past decade at least, “resource nationalism” has been a hotly debated concept for those in the oil, gas and mining industries, government decision-makers and media who cover the space.
Publications
Tip-Toeing Toward Transparency: Jade and Gemstone Sector Disclosures in Myanmar (Myanmar language)
Contrataciones abiertas para los derechos de petróleo, gas y minería: arrojar luz sobre las buenas practicas
Open Contracting for Oil, Gas and Mineral Rights: Shining a Light on Good Practice is now available in a full-length Spanish translation.
NRGI in the news and on the web
Zambian Copper Industry Warns New Tax Regime Will Hit Investment, Jobs in Africa’s Major Producing Country
Fastmarkets
لوري هايتيان - مديرة معهد حوكمة الموارد الطبيعية
Al Mayadeen (Lebanon)
Jade and Gem Smuggling Costs Myanmar Billions
The National (United Arab Emirates)
Global Corruption is a Threat to U.S. National Security
The Lugar Center
Building Consensus around Commercial Transparency in Public Contracts
Center for Global Development
NEITI Identifies Enablers of Illicit Financial Flows in Nigeria’s Extractive Industries
Premium Times (Nigeria)
Towards Responsible Gold Mining in Sagaing Region
Myanmar Centre for Responsible Business
