Using Ghana as an example, this briefing outlines how payments-to-governments data can be used to: monitor whether company payments match what would be expected under the fiscal regime; to monitor the allocation and disbursement of mining royalties to subnational entities; and to monitor payments for infrastructure improvements in mining-affected areas.

Les enquêtes les plus récentes montrent que le renforcement de la transparence et de l’implication du public en matière de passation de marchés constitue un moyen efficace de négocier des termes plus avantageux pour le public, d’améliorer les services publics, de décourager la fraude et la corruption, d’établir la confiance et de promouvoir un environnement commercial plus concurrentiel.

Deals in the oil, gas and mining sectors may be worth billions of dollars over decades. Yet there is surprisingly little systematic guidance for ensuring transparency in allocating and managing the rights to explore for and exploit natural resources.

Nigeria is one of the largest and oldest oil producers in Africa, with over 50 years of commercial extractive activity.

A new report by the Openness in Natural Resource Working Group indicates that countries make more natural resource commitments compared to other sectors like health or education.

Thailand’s experience provides an example of why public engagement and transparency by all major stakeholders are needed in the extractive sector. The prospect of greater transparency could see a reversal in the country’s current trajectory of slower economic growth and also dispel myths that fuel public mistrust of the sector. This case study shows how disseminating information on the oil and gas sector through the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) could potentially benefit not only citizens and government, but companies, as well.

Which types of information—and in which format—will be of use to communities closest to extractive sites? This paper is written for national and subnational policy makers and civil society organizations trying to improve transparency and governance of the extractive sector at the local level.

Commodity trading and the activities of trading companies influence economic and governance outcomes in developing countries.

A particularly critical area for transparency is the sale of petroleum by national companies on behalf of the state. Disclosure should cover the amount of oil the company receives, and the price, grade, volume and date at which it is sold.

Governments, international organizations and other actors can improve transparency by establishing and enforcing a set of international standards for financial and accounting records, as well by disclosing contractual terms.