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Contract transparency and monitoring

Contracts between governments and companies for the exploitation of publicly held natural resources are key documents that detail how and at what cost extraction occurs. Unlike other parts of the legal framework, they have traditionally been kept secret. Under what now amounts to a new global norm, over 40 governments have published contracts, licenses and permits. This practice is endorsed by over 18 companies and supported by a range of international organizations.

Contracts between governments and companies for the exploitation of publicly held natural resources are key documents that detail how and at what cost extraction occurs. Unlike other parts of the legal framework, they have traditionally been kept secret.

Under what now amounts to a new global norm, over 40 governments have published contracts, licenses and permits. This practice is endorsed by over 18 companies and supported by a range of international organizations, including the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative, the International Monetary Fund, the United Nations, the International Finance Corporation, the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, the International Bar Association, the B Team, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development and the International Council on Mining and Metals.

Publication of contracts brings benefits to all stakeholders. When citizens are able to view contracts, they can monitor extractive industry projects and see whether the rules are being followed. This reduces the risk that negligence or corruption will have adverse environmental and social impacts. For companies, publishing contracts can be an important step toward a “social license to operate” and can help build stronger community relationships that make projects more stable. For governments, contract transparency increases public trust, provides valuable information that strengthens the government’s capacity to enforce the rules, and ensures that all officials have access to the agreed terms relevant to their responsibilities.

Read more
ResourceContracts.org Returns With New Features and More Contracts
5 November 2015
Aucune excuse pour le recul dans la transparence de contrats extractifs en République Démocratique du Congo
8 October 2020
Contract Transparency is an Extractive Industries Success Story—But It’s Not Over Yet
8 December 2020

    Publications

    Resource Governance Index: 2019 Interim Evaluation Report for Guinea (Mining)

    Briefing
    24 June 2019

    How and Why the Myanmar Government Should Publish Petroleum and Mining Contracts

    Briefing
    27 May 2019
    Sebastian Sahla, Hosana Chay, Robert Pitman

    Resource Governance Index: From Legal Reform to Implementation in Sub-Saharan Africa

    Report
    15 April 2019

    Tip-Toeing Toward Transparency: Jade and Gemstone Sector Disclosures in Myanmar (Myanmar language)

    13 February 2019
    Paul Shortell

    Mongolia's Missing Oil, Gas and Mining Contracts

    Briefing
    11 February 2019
    Robert Pitman

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    News & Insights

    Aucune excuse pour le recul dans la transparence de contrats extractifs en République Démocratique du Congo

    Descartes Mponge Malasi
    8 October 2020

    The 2021 Resource Governance Index Research Process is Underway

    Liz McGrath, Anna Fleming
    13 July 2020

    Oil Giant Eni To Pay Millions Over ‘Sham Contracts’ In Panama Papers Bribery Case

    ICIJ
    23 April 2020

    Highly corrupt countries receiving Covid debt relief; banking, health sectors deemed to face greatest corruption risks

    MLex
    22 April 2020

    ‘Crude Intentions’ cuts through the bling of natural resource corruption

    FCPA Blog
    7 April 2020

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    Other Topics

    Beneficial ownership
    Mandatory payment disclosure
    Civic space
    Measurement of environmental and social impacts
    Commodity prices
    Measurement of governance
    Coronavirus
    Open data
    Corruption
    Revenue management
    Economic diversification
    Revenue sharing
    Energy transition
    Sovereign wealth funds
    Global initiatives
    State-owned enterprises
    Legislation and regulation
    Subnational governance
    Licensing and negotiation
    Tax policy and revenue collection

    Related events

    Governance, Transparency and Equitable Growth (Africa Oil Week panel)

    Event type: 
    Conference
    Wednesday, November 7, 2018 -
    10:30 to 11:30
    Cape Town, South Africa

    What’s the Deal? Evolving Practices in Contract Transparency

    Event type: 
    Discussion
    Thursday, June 28, 2018 -
    15:30 to 17:00
    Berlin, Germany

    13th Latin American Forum on Extractive Industries

    Event type: 
    Conference
    Monday, March 6, 2017 - 08:30 to Tuesday, March 7, 2017 - 17:30
    Bogotá, Colombia

    Natural Resources for Sustainable Development: The Fundamentals of Oil, Gas, and Mining Governance

    Monday, February 5, 2018 - 09:00 to Sunday, May 13, 2018 - 17:00
    Online

    Media Course on Oil Gas and Mining Governance

    Event type: 
    Learning
    Monday, October 17, 2016 - 09:00 to Friday, October 28, 2016 - 17:00
    Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

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    • Topics
      Beneficial ownership
      Civic space
      Commodity prices
      Contract transparency and monitoring
      Coronavirus
      Corruption
      Economic diversification
      Energy transition
      Global initiatives
      Legislation and regulation
      Licensing and negotiation
      Mandatory payment disclosure
      Measurement of environmental and social impacts
      Measurement of governance
      Open data
      Revenue management
      Revenue sharing
      Sovereign wealth funds
      State-owned enterprises
      Subnational governance
      Tax policy and revenue collection
    • Approach
      • Stakeholders
      • Natural Resource Charter
      • Regional knowledge hubs
    • Priority
      Countries
      • Colombia
      • Dem. Rep. of Congo
      • Ghana
      • Guinea
      • Mexico
      • Mongolia
      • Myanmar
      • Nigeria
      • Peru
      • Tanzania
      • Tunisia
      • Uganda
    • Learning
      • Training
      • Primers
    • Analysis & Tools
      • Publications
      • Tools
      • Economic models
    • About Us
      • What we do
      • NRGI impact
      • Board of Directors
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