Report on Eurasia Extractive Industries Knowledge Hub activities over 2015

In 2015 the Eurasia Extractive Industries Knowledge Hub conducted two regional trainings in Istanbul (Turkey) and four auxiliary courses in Dushanbe (Tajikistan).

On 12-13 December, 2015 Eurasia Extractive Industries Knowledge Hub hold “EITI promotion and public awareness over transparency initiative in Tajikistan” training in Dushanbe, organized by the Ministry of Finance of Tajikistan with support of the World Bank.

This event was important for the initiative in terms of publication and presentation of the First National EITI Report and its visual version.

20 representatives of media from state and private radio and television, newspapers and magazines, internet community, as well as leading local and regional NGOs took part in the training.

Two days event was composed of several sessions and permanent work in groups.  The participants received detailed information about EITI, its standards and requirements.  Trainers’ main task was to simplify the understanding of EITI among mass media and public figures.

On 10-11 December, 2015 Eurasia Extractive Industries Knowledge Hub training in Dushanbe was entitled to "EITI report data analysis and its practical application in Tajikistan”, organized by the Ministry of Finance of the Tajikistan Republic with support of the World Bank.

Trainers Ingilab Ahmedov and Farid Guliyev conducted two day courses on data analysis methodology, EITI report data connection with major macroeconomic indicators, as well as Tajikistan’s extractive industry; practical application of this data at evaluation of the extractive industries and further improvement of their management.Most of those 21 participants in the courses were members of the multi-stakeholder group (MSG) from all three parties- government, companies and civil society.

On 7-9  December, 2015  NRGI’s Eurasia Knowledge Hub organized 3 day Course on “Management and division of Revenues from Natural Resources” in Istanbul.

Applying MSG format, the Course was attended by 25 representatives of government structures, CSO and companies from Azerbaijan, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan.

NRGI’s Andrew Bauer, David Mihayli and Hub expert Kenan Aslanly led number of sessions on theoretical grounds and different models for management and division of extractive revenues. Theoretical sessions were followed by practical action planning sessions where country teams discussed problems of their countries on revenue management and proposed recommendation.

On 23-24 November 2015. “EITI validation process and pre-validation preparation in Tajikistan” was a training conducted by the Eurasia Extractive Industries Knowledge Hub in Dushanbe organized by the Ministry of Finance of the Tajikistan Republic with support of the World Bank.

Main task of the training was to increase skills of the multi-stakeholder group in the light of new EITI standard requirements, as well as search and elimination of existing shortages in the EITI reporting and process of transparency initiative implementation.

Most of those 31 participants in the courses were members of the multi-stakeholder group from all three parties - government, companies and civil society, as well as delegation of Kyrgyzstan which is also planning to pass validation.

Two days session was led by experienced trainers from the Eurasia Extractive Industries Knowledge Hub and consisted of several group works, discussions over validation methodology issues, terms, consequent measures and possible scenario of the validation results.

The gaps in the state governance mechanism of Tajikistan extractive industries have been revealed during the discussion. There were identified gaps in tax collection and other payments, the deficiencies of the existing system of extractive industry revenue distribution between state and local budgets.

Certain recommendations have been prepared to eliminate those deficiencies and improve the public finance management. The participants were given certificates upon the completion of the training.

On June 22-24, 2015  NRGI’s Eurasia Knowledge Hub organized  3 day workshop on “EITI Data Analyses” in Istanbul. 

Main target of the workshop was to deliver NRGI’s EITI report analyses methodology and create multistakeholder atmosphere to discuss problems and find solutions.

The workshop was attended by 23 MSG members and activists from Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Ukraine. The regional character of the workshop gave opportunity to participants to hear problems and approach of others as well.

Participants shared with their views on main gaps in their EITI reporting. Main analyze subject during the workshop was 2013 EITI report of Kazakhstan, due to fact it was the only published and available in Russian language EITI report in Eurasia.

The analyses methodology applied during the workshop was worked out by NRGI experts. It is a 3 step process starting with collection of information, its evaluation based on provisions Natural Resource Charter and other best practices and working out policy recommendations. Sessions were delivered by Eurasia Hub and NRGI Eurasia staff and covered topics on EITI Conception and Standard, EITI report analyses methodology, License Allocation, Production, Government Receipts from Extractives, State Owned Enterprises and Sub-national transfers. Each session had group work component when country MSG teams came together to analyze particular information and work out recommendations.

The session on “Analyses methodology” started with practical question on why analyses was important to participants. The group works showed not only CSO members were active, but government officials and company representatives were also very engaged and made presentations on behalf of their team.

Coming months will be important for all countries participating in 22-24 June workshop; Azerbaijan’s 2013 report in expected in July and will task local experts and Coalition with new investigations. Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan and Ukraine also has tight deadlines to publish their first ETI Standard reports very soon. Thus timely delivered skills and capacity will enable all MSG parties to check the quality of their EITI reports and also prevent gaps in future reporting. New EITI reports and their analyses will also open new discussions and keep MSGs active.

From June 17 to 19, 2015  Eurasia Extractive Industries Knowledge Hub conducted training on capacity building for Tajikistan multi-stakeholder group.

Task of this training was to study EITI standards, principles and requirements, and role of each stakeholder in successful implication of the initiative.

During three day training the participants received information on EITI Concept and Standard, as well as detailed clarification on certain topics of the reporting, preparation of the first EITI report and forthcoming steps directed to activation of MSG activity.  

Taking into account that the Tajikistan Republic had to provide its audit report to the EITI International Secretariat by the end of 2015, the issues of data reconciliation from the extractive companies that are collected for audit report were reflected in the course of trainings.

23 MSG members participated in the courses, including representatives of the government, companies and the civil society.

Training was conducted with support of the Open Society Institute- Assistance Foundation/ Tajikistan in the frames of “Transparency and Accountability” program in partnership with Ministry of Finance of the Tajikistan Republic, a leading body in EITI introduction through Tajikistan and EITI National Secretariat.