May 29, 2012
*An informed and proactive civil society that has the relevant and necessary information can be a strong force of change in the global work for increased transparency in the extractive industries. For over 50 years, multinational oil and mineral companies and states have extracted and traded with non-renewable and finite resources, surrounded by almost complete secrecy for those they handle the resources on behalf of: the citizens, investors, and society at large.*
The financial secrecy that today entails the extractive industries, is most harmful for developing countries, who loose out on revenues that could have the potential to bring millions of people out of poverty. We therefore see it as crucial to include participants from resource rich developing countries.
Participation by a motivated civil society is vital if we are to achieve a just, transparent and accountable management of non-renewable and finite natural resources. It is urgent to make investments in a sustainable future and a common good.
PWYP Norway offered travel support to the conference for selected civil society-representatives living and working in resource rich, developing countries. We received over 120 applications, and from the many who were highly eligible, we could unfortunately only select 28.
We would like to thank everyone who applied, and hope that the ones who were not selected for the travel support will find value in the dissemination work that the selected delegates are to complete after the conference, and in the films and other material PWYP Norway will make available on our web site after the event.
The following candidates from civil society received travel support from PWYP Norway to attend the conference:
|*No*|*Country*|*Name*|*Organisation*|
|1|Bolivia|Marco A. R. Escalera Rivero|Somos Sur|
|2|Bolivia|Juan Carlos Balderas Gamarra|CEADL|
|3|Ecuador|Silvia Mariela Mendez Prado|Jubileo 2000|
|4|Ecuador|Mabel Andrade|AGEARTH - Ecuador|
|5|Ghana|Mardey Ohui Ofoe|Foundation for Female Photojournalists|
|6|Ghana|Patricia Blankson Akakpo|Network for Women’s Rights in Ghana|
|7|Ghana|Richard Ellimah|Wacam|
|8|Ghana|Frederick Asiamah|Public Agenda Newspaper|
|9|Kenya|Kenneth Kigunda Harrison|Africa Communicy Development Media|
|10|Mexico|Gabriela Aguirre Fernández|Fundar, Center of Analysis and Research|
|11|Mozambique|Edson Cortês|Centro de Integridade Pública|
|12|Mozambique|Adilson Mahomed Tajú|Grupo Socio|
|13|Nigeria|Olusegun Rotimi|Nigeria Labour Congress|
|14|Nigeria|Kolawole Banwo|Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre|
|15|Nigeria|Obiageli Lynda Ukeoma|Gender and Development Action|
|16|Peru|Sandra Mosqueira|Grupo Propuesta Ciudadana|
|17|Sierra Leone|Daniel Kojo-Lansana|Open Eye Development Organization|
|18|Sierra Leone|Mohamed Konneh|Association of Journalists on Mining and Extractives|
|19|South Sudan|Mananyu Gladys Dommy|Sudan Council of Churches|
|20|South Sudan|Jamus Joseph|Norwegian People’s Aid – South Sudan Program|
|21|South Sudan|Simon Nyuot|Jonglei Oil Taskforce|
|22|Tanzania|Sarah Shija|Norwegian Church Aid Tanzania|
|23|Tanzania|Prosper Ngowi|Norwegian Church Aid Tanzania|
|24|Tanzania|Grace Kalambo|Christian Council of Tanzania|
|25|Thailand|Jockai Khaing|Arakan Oil Watch|
|26|Uganda|Atwijukire Doris|Africa Institute for Energy Governance|
|27|Uganda|Nelly Busingye|Southern and Eastern African Trade Information and Negotiations Institute|
|28|Zimbabwe|Tendayi Bobo|Zimbabwe Environmental Law Association|
h3. What were the selection criteria?
* Motivation to participate at the conference and share knowledge from the conference with home network
* High proficiency in English is required, as English will be the conference language
* Experience from advocacy work related to extractive industries, corruption, capital flight and/or financial secrecy is required
* A relevant educational background is an advantage
In addition, the organisation that the participant represents, should fit one or both of the follwing traits:
* Transparency in extractive industries, corruption, revenue tracking, and preferably also capital flight and global financial secrecy, should be a part of the organisation´s focus area.
* If capital flight and financial secrecy are not areas currently addressed by the organisation, there should be an existing organisational interest in incorporating these areas into ongoing work and strategy.
_Women were particularly encouraged to apply_