The Eurasia Extractive Industries Knowledge Hub was established in September 2010, with collaboration between Revenue Watch Institute (RWI), New York, USA and Khazar University (KU) Baku, Azerbaijan. The management of the Hub was jointly undertaken by RWI and KU.
Goals
The Hub aims to strengthen oversight bodies (Civil Society Organizations, media and Parliaments). Another goal is to assist sub-national level government officials in Central Asia/Caucasus to exert their influence on the prudent governance of the extractive sector, seeking to mainstream existing knowledge and new concepts and innovative approaches. By being closer to the ground, the Hub will be able to offer a concerted, regionally relevant approach to providing information and knowledge products to facilitate analysis, auditing, and prudent decision making at national and sub-national levels for all stakeholders. The Hub’s primary targets are Civil Society Organizations, Parliamentarians, media, and local governments.
Activities
It should be noted that the Eurasia EI Knowledge Hub aims at strengthening extractive industries (oil and gas and mining), non-governmental organizations, civic society members, and media in the Eurasia region. The Hub organizes regular trainings and invites well-known international, regional, and local trainers as well as representatives of the organizations which are in need of these trainings such as NGO, media, and civic society members through a competitive selection process. The main teaching topics are oil and gas, mining industries’ contracts, EITI, budgeting, funds, and revenue management.
In addition, it should be mentioned that the Hub establishes linkages and a wider net of relationships with EI practitioners from civil society (potentially, future trainers) in key countries in the CA/C regions. These countries will include, at a minimum, Azerbaijan, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, and Mongolia. It is hoped that Georgia, Ukraine, Afghanistan, Albania, Bulgaria, Romania will eventually also be included.
Eurasia EI Knowledge Hub is a part of Revenue Watch Institute’s long-term perspective strategy in this field. Together with cooperation from other similar Hubs (Ghana,Africa, and Peru, South America) it is intended to become an important training center in the Eurasia region.
Eurasia Hub, first training
Khazar University and Revenue Watch Institute together with Eurasia Extractive Industries Knowledge Hub held a training titled “Hydrocarbon and Minerals - from Extraction to Sustainable Development” at Crescent Beach Hotel in Baku, Azerbaijan from February 15, 2011 to February 22, 2011. The objective of the training was to provide the audience with basic knowledge, tools and skills covering different aspects of the oil, gas, and mining industries. Fifteen civic society members from Mongolia, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan attended this training.
During the training, participants learned about the EI value chain, contract analyzing, revenue management and transparency, budget advocacy, etc. On the third day of the training, participants had a field trip to the world’s biggest terminal, Sangachal. A trip to the city for sightseeing was organized as well.
It should be noted that the Eurasia EI Knowledge Hub aims at capacity building on extractive industries (oil and gas and mining), non-governmental organizations, civic society members, and media in the Eurasia region. The Hub organizes regular trainings and invites well-known international, regional, and local trainers as well as representatives of the organizations which are in need of these trainings such as NGO, media, and civic society members through a competitive selection process. The main teaching topics are oil and gas, mining industries’ contracts, EITI, budgeting, funds, and revenue management.
Most participants are invited from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia and Azerbaijan, as well as other countries of the region such as Bulgaria, Romania, Albania, Ukraine and Afghanistan. The Eurasia EI Knowledge Hub is a part of Revenue Watch Institute’s long-term perspective strategy in this field, and together with other similar Hubs’ (Ghana-Africa, South America-Peru) cooperation, it intends to become an important training center in the Eurasia region.
Eurasia Hub, second training
The Eurasia Extractive Industries Knowledge Hub in Khazar University held a training titled “EITI essentials” at Crescent Beach Hotel in Baku, Azerbaijan from May 28, 2011 till May 30, 2011. The objective of the training was to provide the participants with basic knowledge, tools and skills covering EITI and negotiation process. Twenty-two members of CSO’s, media, parliament, government and company representatives from Bulgaria, Albania, Afghanistan, Georgia, Indonesia, Ukraine, Turkey and Tajikistan attended this training.
During the training participants gained knowledge about EITI purpose, governance, reporting, and choices in EITI, the role of CSO in EITI, EITI process, negotiation skills and EITI “beyond the basics issues.” All three days were filled with interactive training using appropriate materials and exercises. A trip to the city for sightseeing was organized as well.
Among the participants of this session, ten were from EITI candidate countries (Albania, Afghanistan and Indonesia) and most were CSO representatives. By applying knowledge and skills gained during the program, attendees will be able to engage more actively in EITI development processes in their home countries.
In the meantime, the other group country representatives have clearly demonstrated their intention to be involved in EITI; they were all highly motivated to learn strategies to further the process in their countries.
The participants collaborated attentively. Two international and two local trainers made the training interactive and engaging. In almost all sessions the participants found the examples/cases interesting, and engaged in and completed the assigned tasks.
At the onset of the training, participants were shown that they can play an important role in assisting and implementing the EITI process as they push EITI forward in their own countries.
The Eurasia Hub believes these trainings and the ensuing dialogue will continue to be an ongoing process.
Institutes and Centers
TOP DESTINATIONS
UPCOMING EVENTS