Transparency

Why does transparency matter?

Transparency is important because good governance comes from citizens, organisations and corporations being able to hold governments to account for the decisions they make, the taxes they collect, the resources they manage, and how those resources are then used.  Achieving this requires two things.  Firstly, the political system must allow those affected by government decisions to have access to decisions-makers.  Those decision-makers, whether they be politicians or other public servants, also need to accept that good policy comes from involving all sectors of society.  Secondly, there needs to a be steady stream of information from government about its activities and decisions.

Countries which are rich in oil, gas, and mineral resources have often found it difficult to translate those resources into sustainable development.  The challenges of managing such resources are considerable and there is some evidence to suggest that such countries are more likely to be corrupt,  susceptible to conflict, and suffer from long-term low economic growth. 

This video, produced by the International Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) Secretariat in Oslo explains some of the challenges that face countries which are rich in oil, gas, and mineral resources.