The 2019 EITI Standard and the 2020 revised Validation model are instructive on the role of the MSG in the lead up to Validation.  Accordingly, it is recommended that “Prior to the commencement of Validation, the multi-stakeholder group (MSG) oversees the collation of data and documentation that demonstrates evidence of addressing each EITI Requirement within the component(s) being assessed, using Board-approved templates.”

Following a mission support by the EITI International Secretariat in January to abreast the MSG on how to complete the EITI Board’s approved Validation Templates, the SLEITI MSG unanimously resolved to undertake the completion of the templates on Transparency, Stakeholder engagement, and outcomes and impact using its in-house expertise.

As daunting as it may seem to complete these templates, the Minister of State in the Office of the Vice President, and Chair, SLEITI MSG Francess Piagie Alghali has successfully led the SLEITI MSG “Technical Sub-Committee on Validation” in completing of the Validation templates. The Validation templates covers several range of questions and thus follows the EITI “annual disclosure cycle”

It will be recalled that Sierra Leone’s next Validation against the 2019 EITI Standard is scheduled to commence on 1 April 2022. The EITI holds all implementing countries to the same global standard. Through Validation, the EITI’s quality assurance mechanism, implementing countries are assessed on their ability to meet the provisions of the EITI Standard.

During the template completion exercise, Mrs. Alghali was of the view that the information already captured in the Validation templates were ‘satisfactory’ and Sierra Leone will stop at nothing but to record a very score. She called on the Committee to ensure that the necessary details were included in the Validation Templates. As she put it, “this exercise is a national assignment” and we should strive to complete the validation templates against deadline.

The technical experts were drawn from SLEITI MSG Institutions such as the National Minerals Agency, Ministry of Finance, National Revenue Authority, Environmental Protection Agency, Network Movement for Justice and Development, National Advocacy Coalition on Extractives, the Chamber of Mines, including the Staff of the SLEITI Secretariat.

The special Validation templates completion exercise was held at the Fabulous Resort –York, and it was co-funded by the Government of Sierra Leone and the UNDP Peace Building Fund.