Niger: Capacity Building and EITI Outreach for PWYP Coalition

The Government of Niger endorsed EITI in March 2005, but little has been done to date to further implementation. As a result of needs identified by regional partners and local CSOs in Niger, RWI provided support in collaboration with the World Bank's Development Grant Facility to two local organizations – Reseau des Journalistes pour les Droits de l'Homme (RJDH) and Reseau des Organisations pour la Transparence et l'Analyse Budgetaire (Rotab-PWYP Niger). Together Rotab and RJDH are initiating EITI capacity building activities for the PWYP coalition and media in Niger.

Rotab is taking the lead on activities to increase the capacity of the PWYP Coalition members to better understand the origins, objectives, principles and criteria of the EITI, and to increase awareness of mining affected communities and locally elected officials on the issues of resource revenue transparency. In order to build the analytical capacity of Coalition members and to develop a better understanding of the need for transparency and the key issues and concepts involved – the Coalition will arrange awareness and training sessions focused on the transparent management of extractive industry revenues as well as trainings on social communication strategies. RJDH will lead on activities aimed at strengthening the capacities of journalists so that they play a leading role in terms of public awareness and advocacy for greater transparency in the extractives sector and educate civil society actors and citizens and get them involved in the EITI process. The objectives of RJDH's project include training CSO's in EITI processes, raising public awareness of the importance of transparent revenue management, enhancing the network of CSO and local communities, and building the capacity of the media to conduct their own analyses of information and ultimately trigger action to pressure policymakers and companies to fulfill their commitments to implement the EITI.