Ishmael Bayoh
Information Attachè
Sierra Leone Embassy Dakar, Senegal
+221775996486
The Sierra Leone Extractive Industries and Transparency Initiative (SLEITI) and the Senegal Extractive Industries and Transparency Initiative (EITI) on Thursday November 18th, 2021 began an experience sharing on how the two country’s extractive industries are separately operating.
The Senegal EITI is playing host to their counterparts from Sierra Leone until 23rd November, 2021.
Welcoming the SLEITI delegation from Sierra Leone, Pr Awa Marie Coll Seck, President for the Senegal EITI said they have made progress in using the EITI to drive government reforms and generate a vibrant public debate on the nascent extractives sector.
She also said Senegal was making satisfactory progress in meeting EITI requirements, making Senegal the first country in Africa and the fourth EITI implementing country to reach this level of progress.
She disclosrd that the EITI Senegal is under the Office of the President and their funding is budgeted for from the national budget. She expressed optimism that with the experience sharing, lessons would be learnt that would be beneficial for implementation by the two agencies in their respective countries.
Minister of State, Office of the Vice President (OVP) in Sierra Leone Mrs. Francess Alghali who is the Head of delegation overseeing SLEITI in the OVP referred to the experience sharing as an eye opener into the activities of EITI Senegal. “We have already have some take aways and one of the impacts you are creating is because your institution is legislated which means you can give effects to your legal status and actions”. She referred to the Senegal EITI.
The Minister thanked the UNPBF through the UNDP in Sierra Leone for supporting them undertake the experience sharing as one of their projects to strengthen SLEITI. She also thanked the EITI Senegal for hosting them and also sharing their experiences with them.
Several presentations and experience sharing were made. There were presentations on the Senegal EITI National Committee: organization, functioning, missions and team of the Secretariat. Mr. Mohamed B. Koroma, National Coordinator SLEITI made presentation on Sierra Leone EITI processes.
One critical area looked at was the presentation on the implementation of requirement relating to beneficial owners and exchange of good practices and also the communication strategy of EITI Senegal. Both institutions also shared and deliberated on their annual work plans.
The experience sharing continues tomorrow Friday 19th November, 2021.
