SIERRA LEONE EMBRACES EXTRACTIVE INDUSTRIES

UNCLAS FREETOWN 000403 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPT FOR AF/W E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EMIN ECON ETRD PREL PGOV SL SUBJECT: SIERRA LEONE EMBRACES EXTRACTIVE INDUSTRIES TRANSPARENCY INITIATIVE REF: STATE 75118 ¶1. On June 28, the GoSL launched the Sierra Leone Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (SLEITI) by inaugurating its EITI National Steering Committee and establishing an EITI Secretariat at a ceremony at the Presidential State House. SIPDIS Endorsing EITI at the ceremony, President Ahmad Tejan Kabbah said the GoSL is committed to high standards of transparency and accountability in public life, government operations and in business. ¶2. The National Steering Committee is comprised of representatives from the Ministries of Presidential Affairs, Mineral Resources, Finance, Local Government and Community Development, National Revenue Authority, Council of Paramount Chiefs, National Commission on Environment and Forests, Civil Society (three representatives),the Media, members of Parliament, the Audit Department, Office of National Security, and Chamber of Mines. The GoSL has appointed Dr. Sheku Sesay, Minister of Presidential Affairs, as the EITI representative. ¶3. The GoSL has an implementation framework in place and has drafted a national work plan. The GoSL is also close to finalizing a memorandum of understanding with civil society stakeholders and the mining industry. At the GoSL's request, the UK Department for International Development (DFID) and the World Bank have funded a consultant to address capacity issues necessary to move EITI implementation forward. ¶4. EITI appears to be gaining momentum, mostly driven by a civil society coalition, the National Advocacy Coalition of the Extractives (NACE),which is dedicated to promoting greater transparency in the mining sector. NACE is receiving support from Catholic Relief Services and Christian Aid. ¶5. The overall organization of the mining sector remains poor and requires improvement and NACE advocates renegotiating existing contracts/leases; legislation to amend existing laws to comply with EITI; and building capacity to track budgeting, audits and improve analyses of the mining sector. ¶6. The GoSL intends to submit the required documentation to move from the candidate phase to the compliant phase as defined in the EITI Validation Guide. HULL