2022 Reports

Unlocking the Power of Reformers to Achieve Better Progress on Extractives Governance

Kazemi, Leila; Toledano, Perrine

Meaningful progress on improving the governance of extractive industries requires actors who have a strong interest in bringing this progress about, “reformers”, and who have the power to do so. However, reformers in government often face an uphill battle that can involve major personal, professional and political risks coming from powerful actors who have an interest in maintaining the status quo. To address these risks and help improve the prospects of reformers driving real change on the ground, CCSI has been exploring opportunities for global actors working on EI governance to play a more active role in Empowering and Incentivizing Reformers. In a new think piece, Unlocking the Power of Reformers to Achieve Better Progress on Extractives Governance, we share some key findings on the political challenges facing reformers and ideas for more actively supporting them in addressing these. This piece draws on the input of dozens of experts, including numerous past and present government officials, working on EI governance as well as on insights derived from CCSI’s broader activities focused on the Politics of Extractive Industries.