Nigeria: Season of Uncertainty

RWI Research Associate Alexandra Gillies and Northwestern professor Richard Joseph survey the political turmoil in Nigeria during the illness of late President Umaru Yar’Adua, detailing the uncertainty among Nigerian leaders and the ways in which political tumult slowed action on vital issues such as crippling infrastructural deficit, local confict, oil sector reform, and the rehabilitation of democratic institutions in preparation for the 2011 elections.

Boom, Bust and Better Policy: Crisis Lessons for Resource Rich Countries

The global economic downturn and the subsequent drop in commodity prices hit resource rich countries especially hard. In some countries, the shock has caused lasting harm, while for others diversification and prudent policies seem to have lessened the negative impacts. The Revenue Watch Institute has developed recommendations on how resource rich countries can shield themselves from boom/bust cycles, drawing lessons from the recent crisis and the commodities boom that preceded it.

RWI Report: Transforming Resource Wealth into Well-Being

Revenue Watch is pleased to announce the publication of Transforming Resource Wealth into Well-Being, an overview of our work since we were established as an independent organization in 2006 through 2009. This milestone document presents highlights of our capacity building, technical assistance, grantmaking, advocacy and research activities, along with concise explanations of our principles and our approach. It also features firsthand accounts from selected grantees, partners and advisors, and vivid photographs from the different regions in which we operate.

Contracts Confidential: Ending Secret Deals in the Extractive Industries

Contract transparency is sorely needed to improve the management of natural resource wealth, in particular in developing nations where such resources often account for more than half of the national income. In a new report from RWI, authors Peter Rosenblum and Susan Maples delve into government and private sector objections to contract disclosure and make conclusions about what information may legitimately and reasonably be kept confidential, and how civil society institutions can better confront the challenge of secret deals.

EITI: The Case for Company-by-Company Reporting

Since the inception of the EITI, the method of reporting company payments to governments has been one of the most contentious issues, specifically, whether disclosures should be made on a disaggregated, company-by-company basis or in aggregated form. In this Revenue Watch report, author Sefton Darby examines the most common arguments for aggregated reporting, details their weaknesses, and presents stronger arguments that civil society groups can use when presenting disaggregated reporting as the preferable alternative.

RWI-OSI Investigation Uncovers Obstructions to Information Access in Azerbaijan

In 2005, Azerbaijan adopted an ambitious information access law, allowing citizens to request and receive information from any public institution. A new report released by the Revenue Watch Institute and the Open Society Institute-Assistance Foundation Azerbaijan assesses how well the intentions of this law were carried out in 2007 and 2008, and finds that the reality in Azerbaijan falls far short of the ideal.

Resource Management in Latin America, 2000-2005

Recent years have brought important changes to the oil sector in several Latin American countries. Though regional reports have suggested increasing state control over the industry, in fact there are far more diverse trends and practices. This survey by economist Humberto Campodonico offers detailed insights into the varied approaches to oil sector management in eight Latin American countries between 2000 and 2005 that help explain the recent transformation of the regional environment for petroleum operations.

Efficiency of Public Spending in Resource-Rich Post-Soviet States

Public spending can be a powerful tool for resource rich countries to improve development and the delivery of public services. However, a growing body of literature documents inept and inefficient government spending decisions and execution of public sector projects—particularly in developing nations where poor capacity and weakened institutions exacerbate the situation. In these countries, new revenue windfalls from resource exploitation risk being squandered on inefficient spending and projects that do little to improve public services. Revenue Watch Senior Economist Akram Esanov probes these questions in a new report, "Efficiency of Public Spending in Resource-Rich Post-Soviet States."

Getting a Better Deal from the Extractive Sector: Appendix VII

Getting a Better Deal from the Extractive Sector: Concessions Negotiation in Liberia, 2006-2008

This new and comprehensive report demonstrates the need for more equitable terms in natural resource contracts and the pivotal role that the contract process can play in economic recovery and development. After a two-year renegotiation process, Liberia secured significant gains in its rubber and steel contracts, in areas from taxation and environment to housing and education. On February 26, Revenue Watch hosted a panel with Liberian Minister Natty B. Davis and other experts to discuss concession negotiations and lessons from Liberia's successes.