About us
NRGI envisions a world where natural resources enable fair, prosperous and sustainable societies, instead of undermining them.
We exist because decisions about how natural resources are governed determine the wellbeing of people in resource-rich countries, and of the planet.
Building inclusive, resilient and prosperous societies
Oil, gas and mineral resources have shaped the political, economic, social and environmental trajectories of societies for generations.
The current context introduces new challenges. The ongoing energy transition is characterized by deep uncertainties—around the pace of changes in demand for fossil fuels and transition minerals, the scale of increase in access to clean and reliable energy and the power of citizens to shape transition agendas that serve their development needs.
But it also has brought tremendous attention to the impact of the extractive sector on people and the planet. And with it, the opportunity for concerted progress to address longstanding inequities for people living in countries with oil, gas and mineral resources.
NRGI supports informed, inclusive decision-making about natural resources and the energy transition.
Leveraging the transformative power of resource governance
Through our focus on resource governance, we compel and sustain progress. Governance is about the rules of the game; who decides what the future will hold; who benefits; and who is accountable and for what results. Robust governance optimizes resources for sustainable development and more equitable benefit sharing and guards against negative environmental and social impacts. And good governance reinforces long-term prospects for reform.
Leveraging two decades of experience, NRGI serves as a trusted convener in an era of increasing polarization and persistent uncertainty. Our knowledge and experience, including deep country expertise and global influence, help shape effective policies and build bridges between decision-makers, impacted communities, and the private sector and between the development and climate sectors. Our commitment to equity helps people, including the most vulnerable, put their needs and ideas at the center of public narratives and decision-making.
We accompany resource-rich developing countries to:
We are an independent, non-profit organization consisting of around 80 professionals. Most of NRGI’s team members are from—and based in—our focus countries and regions.
NRGI enjoys generous support from a range of donors, including philanthropic foundations, national governments and multilateral institutions.
Our roots reach back to 2002, when the Caspian Revenue Watch project commenced at the Open Society Institute. Its aim was to monitor proceeds from hydrocarbon extraction in Azerbaijan. The Iraq Revenue Watch program soon followed.
By 2006 a group of donors determined that the challenge of resource governance was of global significance. This required the founding of an independent organization – the Revenue Watch Institute (RWI) - exclusively focused on addressing “the resource curse” and improving the quality of life for citizens in resource-rich countries. In 2013, RWI combined with another non-governmental organization, the Natural Resource Charter, responsible for creating a comprehensive set of principles for governments and societies on how to best harness for development the opportunities created by extractive resources.
Drawing on RWI’s country-based approach and the Charter’s leading-edge academic foundations, in 2014 the united entity became the Natural Resource Governance Institute. Since then NRGI has worked at the cutting edge of oil, gas and mineral governance and helped civil society actors and government officials in more than a dozen focus countries to begin negotiating the energy transition. From groundbreaking research on stranded assets to the convening of crucial national dialogues, NRGI continues its proud tradition of accompanying resource-rich countries on their sustainable development journeys.