Transparency Initiative (EITI)

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8.4 CONCLUSION
Although the DRC has only been EITI compliant since July
2014, its history with the process is considered in EITI publications
as one of the most advanced. Having published reports
from 2007 onwards, with the 2015 Report to be published
in late 2016, the MSG, the National Committee and
stakeholders particularly in the government and the private
sector have objectively improved greatly in reporting
efficiency. Data collection has been reduced from one year
down to four months as stakeholders become accustomed
to what is required and approval from within their constituencies
(e.g. company lawyers). With the EITI Report’s lag
time decreased to nine months after the end of the fiscal
year and coinciding with the budget discussions, the 2015
Report may lead to a step change in the country.
The DRC process has almost no hard evidence and statistical
basis to judge whether EITI has been successful in the
country. The trajectory is no doubt tending upwards, particularly
taking into account the situation one decade ago,
however its degree is unclear. Anecdotal evidence from major
players in the government, civil society and the private
sector all point to positive movement, but with much work
to be carried out.
More reliable hard evidence exists in the transformation of
processes and systems within the government. The Auditor
General’s office is considerably stronger than several years
ago. One tax identification exists for each company. Focal
points exist within the various government ministries, so
as one interviewee said “something is happening” and “it is
considerably better” than before the EITI process began.
the population at large, which would serve as a baseline to
judge progress. The GIZ funded a survey of the EITI process,
with interviews, which is a good beginning, but donors,
supporters, and in-country implementers need to take results
more seriously.
The EITI in the DRC still has more potential than results.
What is important now is to take measurement far more
seriously, using the proposed theory of change above as a
basis, with the consultation of the National Secretariat and
MSG. With the theory of change, a detailed strategy and a
detailed plan of action, it is hoped that evaluating the impact
will be more concrete and measurable in the future,
leading to a more positive change in the lives of the country’s
70 million people. Indeed, if there is no headway made
in the next five years, the process will be a shell, a process
that looks good on paper, but does not meet the country’s
real needs. In respect of political rights, the DRC is raising
concerns among international observers; it has been put on
the Freedom House list of the “countries to watch in 2016”,
and if the EITI is more closely linked to the expected turning
points in DRC’s democratic trajectory and can contribute
to special scrutiny of political economy, it can make the
EITI more relevant.
One of the EITI’s main objectives is to be relevant in the
country. The natural resource discussion is taking place
among elites, but it has yet to “catch flame” throughout the
population. For this reason, the proposed theory of change
concentrates on major constituencies which play a key
role in the country, but as of yet have not been (in this consultant’s
view) significantly engaged or engaged enough to
bring about the public debate.
The National Secretariat and the MSG carry out a number
of trainings, but with no statistics around what those
trainings have accomplished, beyond anecdotal positives,
it is impossible to evaluate any impact. With compliant status
only reached in mid-2014, it is too early and “evidence”
is anecdotally based. Establishing causality for many aspects
of ITIE’s work is too difficult. Therefore, it would be
very useful to have a close-ended survey for both elites and