What is the Extractive Industries’ Transparency Initiative?

The Zambia Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative represents a national domestication of the global Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI). . The EITI with headquarters in Oslo Norway is being implemented by over 53 countries spread around all the continents of the world. You can visit the global website at www.eiti.org

The underlying principle of the global Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) is the belief that sustainable and inclusive development is possible in resource rich countries such as Zambia.  It is best realised when the government of these resource rich countries recognises that it is their sovereign duty to manage their country’s resource wealth for the benefits of all their citizens.

Also key is supporting public understanding of what is going on in the resources sector. Public understanding of national revenue and public expenditure, over time, facilitates public debate and informs rational choice of appropriate option and strategies for sustainable development.

EITI is founded on the faith that transparency in revenue management, coupled with the principle and practice of accountability, by government to all citizens is the hallmark of good governance.

This is the rationale for the use of a multi-stakeholder structure to govern the EITI process.

It is also the basic explanation for the importance of the role of civil society in the implementation of the EITI at the global and national levels.