Description
The project addresses the non-transparent and unaccountable transactions in the energy and mining industry (EMI) and the need for civil monitoring and control. The project aims at ensuring civil monitoring by investigating pilot cases and uploading them on Extractive and Energy Industry Watch website. First, a list of stakeholders involved in monitoring or located in areas with EMI hot spots will be compiled and updated. Second, a round table with relevant NGOs will be held to define the principles, scope and content of the website. Next, investigative journalists will be attracted. Third, pilot EMI cases will be selected for monitoring and information will be collected. Next, an analytical report will be prepared and published on the website. Finally, training in civil monitoring of EMI and access to information will be held for other NGOs. The project will benefit local communities, NGOs and organizations. The partner will create and maintain the website with the pilot cases.
Summary of project results
The main goal of the project was to develop good legal and journalistic practice through pilot cases, journalistic publications and a website with resources that can benefit NGOs, local communities and informal citizen groups in their actions to monitor and control the energy and mining industry. The implemented project helped build and develop knowledge and skills among NGOs (30), local communities (17), civil society groups (16) and young investigative journalists (29) through a new legal and journalistic practice; the project resulted in 15 legal cases, an analytical report, multiple articles, two inspiring training sessions and contacts established for future actions. The project met the specific needs of the local communities affected by the activity of the energy and mining industry to take legal and administrative actions to protect public interest through access to information, administrative procedures and litigation. The latter steps can be used to put pressure on the energy and mining industry for greater transparency and responsibility in their work and healthier and cleaner environment. The project helped create good legal and journalistic practices and combinations of them that can enhance the toolkit of NGOs in their role as guardians and advocates of causes of social interest. The investigative journalists had the opportunity to investigate cases related to the energy and mining industry and find new channels and sources of information. The informal citizen groups acquired a number of ideas and skills from the project to develop successful strategies to find information, communicate with the media, influence the competent authorities, achieve the goals and defend the principles underlying the groups formed. The project results and outputs include the following: - a resource network developed and made up of legal and media experts and campaign experts that can be supported in their work on new cases; - a website with resources, legal cases developed, journalistic publications, materials for two training sessions for reporters and NGOs; - an analytical report. The results from the project activities were classified and made available on the website which will be maintained after the end of the project as well. NGOs, local communities and civil groups will find on the website the analytical report, the cases, publications and other resources to help them monitor and control the energy and mining industry.
Summary of bilateral results