Global Witness - Breaking the links between natural resources, conflict and corruption
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Global Witness and the Nicaraguan forest authority, INAFOR, have signed a renewed Agreement in September 2008, which, coupled with financial support provided by the World Bank and GTZ, will see the implementation of IFM continue for a year. Working through local staff and in coordination with government institutions, civil society and other relevant stakeholders, the main objectives of the year ahead include:
- Following up on IFM field mission reports from the previous phase;
- Undertaking and reporting on new IFM field missions;
- Capacity building of civil society through training activities aimed at potential local monitors, and
- Involving local organisations in IFM activities, with a view to identify and eventually hand over IFM to a Nicaraguan monitor.
See all field mission reports here
Background information about the Project
Following an expression of interest from the Nicaraguan Forest Authority (Instituto Nacional Forestal - INAFOR), Global Witness travelled to the country and held multi-stakeholder discussions in June 2006 with a view to design and implement an Independent Forest Monitoring Pilot Project. This materialised with the signing of an Agreement between INAFOR and Global Witness.
The objecitves of the project are as follows:
- Promote the principles of transparency in law enforcement processes.
- Strengthen the institutional basis for an IFM system in Nicaragua, through the development of working relations with INAFOR and other government institutions, as well as with civil society and the private sector;
- Generate reliable information about illegal logging and trade activities in specific regions of the country;
- Ensure the objectivity and transparency of the monitoring activities carried out by the relevant authorities, through the participation of an independent monitor with international credibility, whose reports and recommendations will be made public following a review of the forest authority; and
- Strengthen the operational capacity of the relevant authorities, through the implementation of joint field missions where experience and skills are shared.
The implementation of the project started in August 2006 and, with the support of the UK Department for International Development (DFID), continued until March 2007. See the First Summary Report of activities for this period. The project subsequently continued from April 2007 with the support of GTZ, thanks to which new field mission reports and a Second Summary Report were produced.
Latest Publications
March 2010
New evidence confirms oil revenue transparency still eludes Sudan
Large discrepancies persist between the oil production data published by the government of Sudan and those published by the main Chinese oil company operating in the country, Global Witness said today, six months after the publication of its report which first exposed the gaps.
Environmental groups call on French shipping company Delmas to cancel shipment of precious wood from Madagascar
Global Witness and the Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA) today called on French shipping company Delmas to cancel a shipment to China of hundreds of tons of rosewood from the port of Vohémar, in northeastern Madagascar. The campaign groups accuse the company of facilitating the destruction of Madagascar’s last remaining forests caused by vast illegal logging of rosewood.
Open letter to Delmas shipping company raises concerns over rosewood shipments from Madagascar
An open letter from Global Witness and the Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA) to Delmas shipping company expressing grave concerns at its involvement in the transport of timber from Madagascar which has been declared illicit by the Malagasy authorities. The groups accuse Delmas of facilitaitng the destruction Madagascar's remaining rosewood forests through illegal logging.
Link between Angolan president's son-in-law and state oil company raises questions about transparency
The son-in-law of the Angolan president has been nominated to the board of a holding company that owns a third of the Portuguese oil firm Galp Energia, which has investments in Angola. The nomination was made by the State oil company, Sonangol, which is responsible for managing Angola's oil on behalf of its citizens. This arrangement raises concerns about conflicts of interest to which Sonangol has not responded.
DR Congo: ex-rebels take over mineral trade extortion racket
Former rebels from the Congrès national pour la défense du peuple (CNDP) have established mafia-style extortion rackets covering some of the most lucrative tin and tantalum mining areas in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Global Witness reported today following four weeks of research in the region.
Global Witness concerned at choice of new Ukraine energy minister
Global Witness is concerned that Yuri Boyko, a controversial figure from the murky past of Ukraine’s gas industry, has been put back in effective charge of a key gas supply route from Russia to the European Union.
Landmark oil and mining transparency initiative faces credibility test as key deadline passes
The Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI), a pioneering initiative to bring more openness to the world's oil and mining industries, faces a major credibility test after 20 out of 22 countries failed to meet a key deadline today.
Global Witness urges Cambodia’s donors to condemn sponsorship of military units by private businesses
Aid donors to Cambodia, including the US, EU, Japan, China and the World Bank, should send a strong message to the government that they will not countenance the bankrolling of Cambodia’s military by private businesses. This call follows the announcement last week by Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen of the formation of 42 official partnerships between private businesses and Cambodian military units.
February 2010
A near miss? Lessons learnt from the allocation of mining licences in the Gola Forest Reserve in Sierra Leone
Between 2005 and 2007, two mining licences were issued in the Gola Forest Reserve in Sierra Leone, even though the area was a proposed national park. This new report identifies weaknesses in Sierra Leone's natural resource governance and attempts to draw lessons for the future.
Parliamentary committee report on libel, privacy and press freedom not strong enough to defend public interest reporting
A report on press standards, privacy and libel makes broadly sensible recommendations but does not go far enough to allay fears that England's laws are a barrier to public-interest campaigning.
Campaigners criticise proposals to define palm oil plantations as forests
The Ecosystems Climate Alliance today criticised the EU and Indonesia for attempting to reclassify palm oil plantations as forests, saying this would be a step backwards in efforts to halt climate change though preventing deforestation.
28 countries accused of facilitating money laundering … but key offenders missing
An international financial crime watchdog has named and shamed countries that are failing to stop dirty money entering the financial system, a move welcomed by Global Witness. However, conspicuously absent are major financial centres and secrecy jurisdictions, many of which also have serious weaknesses in their anti-money laundering regulations.
