PWYP Eurasia members meet in Azerbaijan

26 – 27 September 2018, forty representatives of the Publish What You Pay (PWYP) coalitions in Eurasia met in Baku, Azerbaijan to attend the 14th PWYP Eurasia Annual Regional Meeting.

The objectives of the meeting:

• Strengthen the effective trans-national coordination of PWYP coalitions across Eurasia
• Discuss the PWYP draft Strategy for 2020-2025 including the Global Goals
• Build the capacity of PWYP members on effective engagement of civil society in national EITI implementation; and on the governance and management of State Owned Enterprises (SOEs)
• Foster experience sharing and collaboration opportunities among PWYP members

Azerbaijan last hosted the PWYP Eurasia Regional Meeting over 10 years ago and participants underlined the symbolic nature of demonstrating solidarity with the local civil society after country’s withdrawal from the EITI.

Participants from seven countries shared their achievements and challenges within national campaigns and discussed possibilities for cross-country cooperation on priority issues including contract transparency, beneficial ownership and EITI mainstreaming.

Participants discussed and provided feedback on the draft PWYP Strategy for 2020-2025.

Participants also committed to preparing for active participation in the upcoming PWYP Global Assembly which will take place from 29-31 January 2019 in Dakar, Senegal. Preparations required in the coming weeks include the nomination and selection of three delegates, to represent the coalition (including women and youth representatives); fundraising for participation; and nominating a candidate to represent PWYP Eurasia members on the PWYP Global Council.

Participants welcomed the opportunity to provide feedback on the initial research findings from a project coordinated by NRGI to explore the governance and management of National Oil Companies, and to provide recommendations for policy and reforms, in Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Russian and Azerbaijan.

Finally, participants expressed their concern regarding continuous efforts by governments to narrow civic space, harassment of civil society activists and decreasing funding for initiatives on transparency and accountability of the extractive sector in the Eurasia region.

The meeting participants resolved to continue their campaign for a world where all citizens, both current and future generations, benefit from their natural resources.

Baku, Azerbaijan
27 September, 2018

PWYP Azerbaijan

Along with individual PWYP members from Kazakhstan and Albania.