The Papua New Guinea Extractive Industry Transparency Initiative (PNGEITI) continues its mission to promote understanding of natural resource management, strengthen public and corporate governance and accountability and provide the data to inform policymaking and multi-stakeholder dialogue in the extractive sector.
PNGEITI on the 22nd August, continued with its mission, conducting joint lectures with the School of Natural and Physical Sciences at the University of Papua New Guinea.
With an aim to forge a long term partnership with the country’s higher learning institutions, PNGEITI shared with students and staff information on ethical resource management and transparency in the extractive sector.
The two hours session provided the opportunity for the students not only to learn about EITI but also asked questions relating to the extractive sector and how it contributes to the country’s economy.
The presentations by Director Communication & Stakeholder Engagement, Dickson Sorariba and Director Projects and Procurement, Diclah Taureka covered wide range of topics and they include:
- Overview of the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiatives (EITI)
- EITI in PNG context
- Multi Stakeholder Group and its important functions
- The EITI Value Chain
- Key Benefits and how students fit into the bigger picture in the implementation of EITI standards in PNG.
The presentation raised awareness on the importance of tertiary institution participation, the need for its engagement with industry professionals and further generated discussions on data contained in the PNGEITI Annual Reports.
The engagement also provided students the opportunity to understand why EITI matters in a resource rich country like PNG and how it impacts governance and community benefits.
Executive Director of the PNGEITI George Kauli summed up the presentation saying PNGEITI produces an Annual Report that includes the disclosure of key data on the governance of natural resources, such as contracts and licenses, production and exports, revenue collection and allocation, and social and economic spending.
“Our mission is to promote understanding of natural resource management, strengthen public and corporate governance and accountability, and provide the data to inform policymaking and multi-stakeholder dialogue in the extractive sector.” said Mr. Kauli.
This is PNGEITI’s second joint lecture session conducted at UPNG’s School of Natural and Physical Sciences’ Earth Sciences Division. A similar joint lecture session was conducted at University of Technology’s School of Engineering on the 17th of July.
