Regional Hubs: Strengthening Institutions, Empowering Citizens
Revenue Watch is establishing six regional "knowledge hubs" in partnership with academic institutions to offer training and support for civil society organizations, members of parliament (MPs) and journalists to help them analyze issues linked to oil, gas and mining, and develop robust advocacy campaigns.
Background
An informed, active citizenry is critical to good governance in countries rich in oil, gas and minerals. Civil society should seek transparency and accountability in the management of those industries, and MPs should work to meet the needs of affected communities and to secure benefits for future generations. Journalists can help as well by raising awareness of economic and social issues linked to natural resources.
To promote and share strategies for oversight of these industries, Revenue Watch is establishing six regional hubs in partnership with academic institutions to offer training and support to oversight groups. The hubs empower civil society organizations, MPs and journalists with the knowledge and skills they need to conduct their own analysis of issues linked to oil, gas and mining and to develop robust advocacy campaigns.
Revenue Watch believes this training will increase the number and expertise of citizen groups focused on prudent management of natural resources, and help lead to policies for sustainable economic development
The Need
Ideally, citizen engagement begins from the time governments decide to authorize exploration for oil, gas or minerals, and continues as authorities decide how to spend the revenues. In practice, however, many oversight groups lack in-depth knowledge of the industries, and of how best to measure and manage the economic and social impacts. Few training programs target these groups, or are affordable. Government employees typically have more training opportunities, thanks in part to government scholarships.
Civil society organizations, MPs and journalists need to understand how licenses and contracts for exploration and production are awarded, and to be able monitor how contracts are enforced. They also need to analyze the different streams of government revenues, and to monitor how authorities enforce laws and regulations designed to carry out national policy. None of this is easily done without an understanding of contracts, tax policy, environmental regulation and budgetary monitoring.
Through regional hubs, Revenue Watch and its partners help these groups acquire the necessary expertise. Revenue Watch builds the capacity of academic institutions in each region to manage and sustain the hubs. In turn, the hubs build the capacity for civil society, parliamentarians and journalists to spread the lessons, using case studies and examples of good practice. We expect to see over time the number of skilled citizen groups increase in each region. And governments are more likely to heed calls for transparency and accountability when a large number of voices call for them.
Hub Strategies
Revenue Watch created the first hub in 2008. It plans to have six in operation by the end of 2012—one each in Anglophone Africa, Francophone Africa, Asia-Pacific, Eurasia, Latin America and Middle East/North Africa. They are established as part of academic institutions that can provide regular courses.
The programs are tailored to the needs of each region and support civil society, MPs and journalists in the following ways:
- Core courses. These are residential one- to two-week sessions. In some cases, hubs are working with host institutions to introduce relevant subjects and course work at bachelor's and master's degree levels in existing programs.
- Mentorship. Those who finish the core courses are assigned mentors, who offer expert advice for at least six months.
- Training of trainers. Talented alumni receive training that helps them train others. The focus is on strengthening their abilities to communicate key messages to groups new to the oil, gas and mining sectors, and to develop materials for beginning-level courses.
- Policy and legislative analysis. Experts from the regional hubs organize forums to analyze new legislation and policies as they emerge.
- Libraries and resource centers. They are equipped with research materials and broadband Internet access so students can download web-based materials. At some hubs, specialized collections on the oil, gas and mining sectors are created as part of the host university's library system.
- Creation of regional networks of experts. Hubs actively promote the creation of regional networks of experts to help civil society organizations, MPs and journalists analyze policies, legislation and contracts.
Hubs and Academic Institutions
Revenue Watch establishes hubs within existing academic institutions to take advantage of their core scholarly expertise and to ensure that the hubs can support oversight groups over the long term. We expect host institutions to take over hub management after three years of RWI technical and financial support, with two more years of RWI support for quality control.
During the initial three years, RWI offers host institutions the following support, depending on the need:
- Grants for full- or part-time staff to manage the hub.
- Funds for necessary office equipment.
- Faculty training on governance of natural resources.
- Course design and technical input in cooperation with the host institution.
- Help identifying regional experts to conduct hub activities.
- Links to international experts to share good practices.
- Help identifying regional participants and funding their participation.
- Support for development of academic curriculum.
- Advice to hub on broadening sources of financial support.
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