Issue Brief: Disclosing contracts in the natural resource sector

Contract disclosure helps address the severe trust deficit in the natural resource sector, and cultivates an atmosphere of cooperation among those deeply invested in the success of, and are greatly impacted by, extractives operations: governments, companies, and communities. Disclosure helps to set realistic expectations for all the stakeholders, which ultimately minimizes the occasion for conflict. It also reduces opportunities for corruption and leakage.

The Open Government PartnershipThe Open Government Partnership (OGP) is a multi-stakeholder initiative focused on improving government transparency, ensuring opportunities for citizen participation in public matters, and strengthen... More (OGP) is an opportunity for governments to improve their commitmentOGP commitments are promises for reform co-created by governments and civil society and submitted as part of an action plan. Commitments typically include a description of the problem, concrete action... to contract transparencyAccording to OGP’s Articles of Governance, transparency occurs when “government-held information (including on activities and decisions) is open, comprehensive, timely, freely available to the pub... More by making commitments around the proactive disclosure of oil, gas, and mining contracts. This brief aims to provide an overview of current standards and practices, and outline concrete examples of contract disclosure in action.

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