EITI and USAID strengthen collaboration

On 26 February 2024, the EITI and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen strategic engagement on a global level.  

The MoU recognises that transparency, a core tenet of the EITI, is crucial for fostering institutional norms around openness, accountability and responsiveness. It highlights how transparency empowers citizens, especially in resource-rich countries, by curbing corruption, building trust, and ensuring that the benefits of natural resources meet community needs. 

Furthermore, the agreement emphasises the investment value of transparency, citing its contribution to long-term development, including through increased public-private sector cooperation on key development challenges, support for civil society engagement, and availability of resources to meet the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). 

Over its five-year duration, the MoU aims to support key activities of the EITI, including implementation of the EITI Standard globally, participation of the EITI in regional and global platforms, and country engagements that reinforce transparent and accountable governance of the extractive sector and bolster democracy. In particular, the agreement seeks to support countries in using the EITI Standard to identify, mitigate and address corruption risks in the extractive sector.  

The EITI is grateful for the longstanding support from USAID at the global and country levels, and as expressed through the signature of the MOU.