The complete report should be 2200-3000 words, not including the list of references.
The complete report should also cite at least seven sources. At least three of them should come from peer-reviewed, scholarly journals. As noted above, your sources can also include interviews. The sources will be integrated into the paper to explain the problem, provide evidence of the problem, and support the solution.
Research Based Report
Defining the Specific Problem
In preparing to write this assignment, please be aware of the following cautions in fulfilling the assignment instructions:
If you write a report to your manager at work suggesting that more teleworking options be given to employees at your workplace, you cannot simply prepare a report on teleworking. You must show that teleworking will solve a specific problem or problems in your organization.
If you are proposing that email be used less frequently for communication at your workplace and that another application be used to improve communication, you cannot simply write a report on the problem with having too much email. You must show that the use of email at your current workplace presents problems and that the use of another means of communication would solve the problem.
If you write a report to your manager at work suggesting that your office become paperless, you cannot simply prepare a report on the benefits of a paperless office. You must show that your specific office can go paperless and indicate the benefits of your specific office going paperless.
If you write a report to the board of directors at your townhouse community to argue that the playground area in your community should be renovated, you cannot simply prepare a report on the benefits of a playground for a neighborhood. You must show that your specific neighborhood will benefit from renovations in its playground.
If you write a report to the manager of your unit at work noting that recycling facilities in the workplace should be improved, you cannot simply prepare a report on the benefits of recycling or of good recycling facilities in offices. You must show that your specific work environment lacks adequate recycling facilities and show how it will benefit from improved recycling facilities.
Research Based Report
A Reminder about the Role of Primary Research in Supporting the Argument
For your report, you will very likely find it beneficial to conduct some primary research. For writing assignment #3, you gathered some primary research. For writing assignment #4, you want to fill in any gaps needed by conducting additional primary research if necessary. Some suggestions for primary research were given in the instructions for writing assignment
They are as follows:
For a report on teleworking, you might conduct interviews with fellow workers on the topic to see how and why they might benefit from teleworking.
If you are proposing that email be used less frequently for communication and that another application be used to improve communication, you might interview fellow employees on the situation, and you might take screen captures of alternative communication tools to illustrate how they work and would improve communication in your office.
For a report on transitioning to a paperless office, you might take pictures of your office environment showing the clutter or unsafe environment that hard-copy files create.
For a report on building a playground area in the community, you might take pictures of the community area to show where such a playground could be built, and you might interview residents who have children.
For a report on recycling facilities, you might take pictures of the office environment to show that current recycling facilities are inadequate, and you might interview fellow workers about whether they find it easy to recycle materials at your office.
Please note that, if you interview people for your research, you must cite the interviews in your paper. In the paper, you cannot simply write that you “spoke with employees.” A url on how to cite an interview in APA citation style is provided in the list of components for the report.
Length of your paper: Your report should be 2200-3000 words in length. Again, you are required to use at least seven sources, with at least three of them being acquired through UMUC Library OneSearch.
Graphics: Your report might benefit from graphics. As mentioned above, pictures of your workplace or community situation might help illustrate the problem you are trying to address. Graphs, tables, or charts might help show trends that will persuade your decision-maker that the problem exists. Please do not incorporate a graphic for the sake of incorporating a graphic. Include a graphic only if it helps communicate a message in your report.
Strategies to Consider for this Assignment:
Victoria University of Wellington has a thorough outline and review of the components of this type of business report.
Queen Margaret University has an excellent guide for this type of report.
Murdoch University has an excellent guide for this type of report.
Colorado State University presents excellent tips in organizing the report.
Research Based Report
Topics to Help You Come Up with Ideas on this Assignment:
Some possible workplace research topics are the following. These are examples to help you get started. Please contact your instructor to have other topic ideas approved.
Going to a wireless network
Going to a paperless office
Switching from Windows to Linux (or other similar switch)
Installing/upgrading company firewall
Establishing a drug policy
Establishing an employee leave donation program
Establishing an equipment donation program for used computers, etc.
Establishing a company recycling program (paper, etc.)
Education/retraining for your employees
Establishing a program for millennial workers (e.g., training on certain aspects of etiquette, on understanding other generations, etc.)
Designing a training program for workplace safety issues
Redesigning employee performance evaluations
Developing a work-at-home (telecommuting) policy
Developing a flex-time policy
Establishing on-site day care or providing other child care benefits
Providing gym membership or creating an on-site workout facility
Creating or revising a charitable contribution policy
Creating or improving a tuition assistance program
Accommodations needed for employee/s with specific health issues (for example, migraines)
Establishing a Habitat for Humanity (or other group) chapter at your organization
Research Based Report
Some students have chosen topics outside of their workplaces, such as the following:
Starting a neighborhood watch program
Starting a mentor program at your place of worship
Getting additional lighting in the neighborhood
Changing traffic patterns around your child’s school
Starting a PTA website for your child’s school
Installing a tot lot in your neighborhood
Constructing a crying baby room at your place of worship
Offering ESL courses at your church
Increasing participation in a military Family Support Group
Introducing a youth sports program to a school or community
Research Based Report
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Effective Presentations
Your boss wants you to make a presentation on your team effectiveness report (completed in Week 3) to the management team including your chief executive officer.
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Brand Management Enquiry Report
This report encompasses the findings from a brand management and brand equity exercise in Melbourne Australia. In the context of the report, the authors create a proposed business and create an analysis that compares the brand equity of the proposed business venture and that of existing competition.
New startup business
As part of the requirements of this report, there is a need to create a business venture. The proposed business will be the basis of the analysis to be conducted on the brand management and brand equity. In satisfying this requirement, we agreed to develop a fast food outlet as our business. However, in contrast to the traditional offerings of fast food outlets, the proposed business will focus on serving healthy alternatives to the typical junk foods offered by other fast food settings. The main selling point of the new business is the offering of organic vegetable salads, as well as fruit salads.
In order to make the proposed business fully fledged and able to fulfill the considerations of being a complete business, it required a name. After deliberations, we settled on Auganic Fast Food Salad. There were two major reasons for settling with this particular name. Firstly, the name portrays what the business is all about, and thus avoids all confusion that may ensue. Secondly, the alteration of the word organic to Auganic was deliberate as a marketing tactic. Since most people will interact with the brand for only a short period, we found it important to have a memorable name. The twist in the name makes the brand easy to remember.
Brand Management Enquiry Report
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Among the leading causes of death in Australia includes heart failure and heart diseases, cerebrovascular diseases, and various types of cancer (Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2017; Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, 2017). Most of the conditions in the top causes of death in the country are linked to increased levels of cholesterol in the body. As such, in order to control the escalating number of deaths, there is a need to control the health of the Australian populace (Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, 2017).
Given the busy nature of the residents and population of Melbourne, a fast preparation of food, as well as foods that can be conveniently consumed easily is a major requirement for the hectic schedules of the majority of the city dwellers. This type of lifestyle has led to the increase in the number of fast food set ups in the city, as well as an increase in their demand.
Auganic Fast Food Salad has a role to play in the reduction of bad eating habits of the residents of Melbourne as well as the improvement of the health of the residents. In this regard, the business aims to change the manner in which the population of Melbourne takes care of their health. This is to be achieved with minimum interruption of their daily schedules and work balance.
Here, the business finds a justification for its entry through the provision of healthy food options. Auganic Fast Food is to achieve this through the offering of healthier alternatives to the common junk foods offered in the majority of the fast food settings. Therefore, the setting up of Auganic Fast Food Salad will meet an important market need of providing healthy food options to the population of Melbourne.
Brand Management Enquiry Report
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The target market for the proposed business, Auganic Fast Food Salad, will be the residents and population of Melbourne, Australia. Within this population, there are various classes of people who require such services but have been left without the alternatives. Such categories of potential customers include the health conscious individuals who have a busy schedule during the day and cannot find enough time for a freshly prepared and healthy meal.
A second category is the health conscious individuals who may require a boost during the day or night as they plan to make a healthy meal at home. A third category is the individuals that are willing to eat in a healthier manner but have no idea of where to start. All these persons are currently exposed to having to consume alternative foods since there are limited options that serve healthy foods using a fast approach. This presents a ready market for the proposed business and its products.
CBBE Analysis of the competition
This section focuses on the analysis of the proposed business in a bid to determine the brand equity of the business in lieu of its competitors. Brand equity refers to the monetary value attached to a brand as sourced from the recognition it enjoys over its competition (Lasser, Mittal, & Sharma, 1995). In this regard, the analysis makes use of the customer based brand equity (CBBE) model approach to determine the source of the current brand equity for the two major competitors for the proposed business. The segments below outline the CBBE analysis for each of the business’ competitors.
CBBE Analysis for Crisp Creative Salad
Making use of the CBBE pyramid, the foundation for the company’s brand equity is their brand identity. In this regard, Crisp Creative Salad has carved out a niche by identifying themselves as a luxury brand for the healthy individuals. This is achieved through market research and the making of radical choices regarding the products and marketing prior to beginning operations.
The second tier of the pyramid is brand meaning, which directly relates to what the business is. In this tier, the company attempts to make the customer know them more than just being aware of their presence. In the case of Crisp Creative Salad, the company the company gets their clientele to know them through crisp advertising and layout of their products and menu in a clean and exquisite manner. In addition, the company ensures their products meet the customer expectations at every level.
Brand Management Enquiry Report
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The third tier relates to the response the company’s products receive from the consumers. In this regard, there are two definitive categories: judgments and feelings. These refer to the responses from the customers regarding the superiority, quality, and credibility of the products after consuming them. For Crisp Creative Salads, the customers have largely been positive, and many of their customers consider them superior and feel that their salads are of great quality.
The fourth tier relates to brand resonance, where there is a developed relationship between the customer and the product or company. At this level, the customer feels a personal connection to the brand and considers the company their only option. In this regard, Crisp may have a few customers who only order from their branches, and possess a sense of behavioral loyalty to the brand.
CBBE Analysis for Sumo Salad
Sumo Salad, Auganic’s other competitor also has varying characteristics across that reflect the company’s qualities along the CBBE pyramid. Starting at the bottom of the pyramid, the company has a strong brand salience owing to creative marketing approaches that make it well known. This creates a strong operational foundation for the firm, especially given the tough financial situation in the country over the past few years. Such a unique and strong foundation has enabled Sumo Salad to maintain a good image such that the company was still receiving franchisee offers in spite of the tough economy in 2007 and 2008 (Stafford, 2009).
Brand Management Enquiry Report
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On the second tier, which represents who the company is, Sumo Salad seems to struggle with communicating what they stand for to the customers. In terms of imagery, there is a clutter of information in the targeted marketing approaches used in several of their advertising campaigns. While such an action may not directly communicate the company’s required image, Sumo Salad has suffered from such actions by creating the wrong psychological and social impressions in the minds of the customers.
In terms of performance, however, there are better reviews and the customers seem to be satisfied with the pricing and effectiveness of their products. Sumo Salad shines in terms of their performance, mainly through pricing, service efficiency, and the primary characteristics and features of both the company and their products. This, according to Baylis Sumo, among the founders of Sumo Salad, has enabled them to stay afloat for a long time (Stafford, 2009). Therefore, Sumo Salad has a mixed score in the second tier of brand meaning.
On the third tier of the CBBE model, which represents the brand response from the customers, Sumo Salad has mixed responses regarding the quality, credibility, and superiority of their products. In this regard, the feelings and judgments are mixed for Sumo Salad. Customer judgment refers to conceptual feedback held by a customer before they experience the brand’s products, mainly through reviews of other consumers of the product (Lasser, Mittal, & Sharma, 1995).
On the judgment front, Sumo Salad has had both positive and negative reviews. Feelings, on the other hand, is a direct response from a customer who has experienced the product offerings and made a decision regarding the ability of the brand and product to meet their expectations (Lasser, Mittal, & Sharma, 1995). In the same fashion, Sumo Salad has had a mixed response of feelings from their customers over various products in their portfolio.
Brand Management Enquiry Report
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The fourth tier represents brand resonance, which refers to the relationship fostered between the customer and the company. Sumo Salad enjoys very little brand resonance where customers only purchase from the company and have a direct and personal engagement with the brand or the company in a direct and connected way. This may be attributed to poor relationship management, products that don’t meet the customers’ expectations, or the lack of an internal motivation to reach such levels of customer service.
To reach this level of the pyramid, Sumo Salad requires to have a deep and intense psychological connection with the customers. Such a connection stems from a mix of values and characteristics portrayed by both the company and its products. Sumo Salad, however, has not managed to bring such factors together to create the level of engagement required between the company’s products and their customers to achieve the level of brand resonance aspired for by many firms.
Conclusion
There are good prospects for Auganic Fast Food Salad in the current market in Melbourne. From the CBBE analysis, there are various weaknesses in the competitors’ approaches that the company can take advantage of in a bid to acquire an edge. These include the time to prepare meals, absence of personalized services, and lack of a quality, connected touch to the clientele. As such, from the onset of planning for the business, Auganic should begin to plan for the conquering of the entire pyramid through the provision of quality and personalized services to lure in clientele and acquire a large market share.
Brand Management Enquiry Report
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Service Quality Report
The difference between a business that provides various forms of services and those that sell physical goods is largely in the form of the transaction as well as the form of delivery of the goods or services to the customer (Dabholkar, 2015; Baker, 2016). However, a larger difference comes in when assessing the various marketing approaches and concepts used in both the sale of tangible goods and the provision of services.
From such an assessment, there is a view of the more complex nature of marketing for service delivery compared to the sale of goods. This paper focuses on the assessment of service experience in lieu of a personal experience and in relation to the marketing approaches in a service based industry.
Service experience
The service experience case used in this analysis is the use of an Uber taxi service that I used a few years back. During that time, I had been used to driving myself around Melbourne and using various public amenities such as the tram or the metropolitan bus service every once in a while. When the family car is not working or available for a few hours or days, I usually have to sacrifice mine to serve other purposes at home. As such, I need alternative means of transport to help me move around, hence my knowledge and awareness of the various public transport systems in the city.
On one of the occasions when I had sacrificed my car, I had a few errands to run one afternoon and a meeting thereafter that went on later than expected. After the meeting, I was left back to review the discussion late night meeting. The absence of my vehicle had skipped my mind as I was engrossed in the details of the meeting.
On concluding the review, I realized that my colleagues had left and I had few options to get home safely. I had reservations about walking all the way to the bus terminus and wait for the bus. After analyzing my options, I concluded that the best alternative was the use of an Uber taxi service, although I had reservations regarding the service since I was not sure if the driver would come all the way to where I was.
Service Quality Report
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I immediately installed the application on my phone and launched it. The interface was easy enough to grasp and work within a matter of minutes. I then requested for a taxi by inputting the destination I needed to go to. Meanwhile, the phone automatically identified my location and I requested to be picked up. In a few minutes, a foreign number called me and identified themselves as the Uber driver, and that he was on his way to pick me up for a ride to my destination. I was elated at the convenience and waited for the cab.
In a few minutes of his call, the driver arrived and I got in. I loved the speedy nature of the arrival of the cab service. In addition, the ride back home was efficient and the driver was courteous. He kept a light conversation and drove carefully all through. A key aspect of the service that I particularly liked is the professionalism of the driver, both in terms of his driving and handling of customers. That first experience with Uber taxi services made me a loyal customer to the company to date. If I am ever in need of alternative transport when my vehicle is not available, Uber is always my first option.
Accurate and comprehensive application of various types of service marketing concepts to a personal service experience
Perceived risk
Perceived risks refers to the supposed insecurity concerning probable negative consequences of utilizing a product or service (Lovelock & Patterson, 2015; Pappas, 2016). It has been ceremoniously well defined as a blend of uncertainty plus solemnity of outcome involved. A key type of perceived risk is a functional risk, which is the fear that a certain product or service will not meet the promised functions and benefits.
Other associated fears within the parameters of perceived risk include psychological risk, physical risk, financial risk, and time risk among others (Lovelock & Patterson, 2015). These variants of perceived risk are evident in services marketing and the experience of a customer who uses any type of service as explained below.
Service Quality Report
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Using my first time Uber experience as a case sample, I had the perceived risk towards the service. My main reservation was whether the service was to be as beneficial as advertised, as well as what I had heard through the experiences of other users. This functional risk represented the fear that the Uber service would either not come to pick me from my location, or would end up leaving me a far distance from my house.
The fact that the Uber taxi service was to be conducted by a total stranger, there was perceived physical risk since it was a possibility that the driver could assault me and cause bodily harm. While other forms of perceived risks such as the financial, time, and psychological risks were present (Featherman and Pavlov, 2003), they were not at the focus of my concerns as the perceived physical and functional risks.
Factors influencing expectations/zone of tolerance
Customer expectations refer to the beliefs regarding delivery of services as that act as standards or reference points against which the performance of the service is decided (Wilson, 2008). Since clients compare their perceptions of performance with such reference points when examining service standards or quality, detailed knowledge regarding customer expectations is vital to marketers who deal with services.
Acknowledging that a client anticipates something can be said to be the initial and virtually the most critical step in delivering quality services (Wilson, 2008). There are various possible levels of customer expectations. The diagram below will be an illustration of these standards.
Service Quality Report
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Zone of tolerance
The tolerance region is one that can expand or contract depending on the customer. Various factors influence customer expectations especially when it comes to services. The first aspect is that of personal needs. Such may include physical, social, psychological and functional requirements. In the example of my case as a first time Uber user, my need to get home safely was an expectation I had as a consumer of the Uber services.
Another key influencing factor to the delivery of service expectations is when other people drive the hope and expectations of a potential customer. In my case, the friends that had used the service before, as well as online reviews of the company influenced my decision to try out the service.
An additional concept within the realm of customer expectation and their zone of tolerance is the personal service philosophy held by the client (Wilson, 2008). This refers to the generic attitude about the meaning of service and the right conduct of service providers in conducting their business. In my case of using the Uber taxi service, I had generic expectations that the driver would take me to my destination promptly and without unnecessary stops or inconveniences. Gladly, the driver conducted himself in a professional manner and met my existing expectation of personal service philosophy.
Service Quality Report
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Conclusion
In assessing the optimal marketing channel to use for a service based business, it is essential to realize the inseparability of the provision of services and their consumption. As such, in regards to service businesses, it is imperative to learn about and manage customer expectations, their zone of tolerance, and perceived risks. Uber is a company that has adequately addressed these concerns as evidenced by my personal experience with them, a factor that has led to their continued growth and maintenance of customers over the years.
References
Baker, M. J. (2016). What is marketing? In M. J. Baker, The Marketing Book (pp. 25 – 42). Boston, MA: Routledge.
Dabholkar, P. A. (2015). How to Improve Perceived Service Quality by Increasing Customer Participation. In B. J. Dunlap (Ed.), Proceedings of the 1990 Academy of Marketing Science (AMS) Annual Conference (pp. 483 – 494). San Diego: Springer, Cham. doi:10.1007/978-3-319-13254-9_97
Pappas, N. (2016). Marketing strategies, perceived risks, and consumer trust in online buying behaviour. Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, 29(1), 92 – 103. doi:10.1016/j.jretconser.2015.11.007
Wilson, A. (2008). Services Marketing: Integrating Customer Focus across the Firm. 1st Ed. New York: McGraw-Hill Education, p.623.
Service Quality Report
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Field Report
Industrial Technology Research Institute focuses on development and upgrading tin innovations. The primary prerequisite for the success of a technological research institute is to promote inventions and provide market now and in the future. Effective implementation of technology in the industry requires the consideration of the actual context of industrial development so as to apply correct strategy at the right time (ITRI 2015).
Most of the minerals are found in enclaves that are geographically far from the local communities. The situation poses the main challenge for the institute which has been strategic in involving the neighboring communities to improve the process of data collection. Also, informal mining sectors, lack of transparency and accountability among stakeholders, diverse social and political structures are some of the other challenges faced by the institute.
Some establishments mine the mineral illegally and use the minerals to fund criminal activities or exploit manufacturers especially if the supply of the minerals is low. When there are informal mining sectors, it becomes hard to set market equilibrium prices for the manufacturers. In the end, most production processes become costly. The Institute liaises with the local government to control mining activities and implement actions for control.
Involvement of local communities has also been strategic in solving the predicament. Transparency from government officials, especially in African nations, makes implementation of the solution hard though the institute sends a representative in the affected countries to control the processes.
Field Report
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Data collection is one of the major problems faced by the institute. Roads and infrastructure in more of the countries are poor making it difficult to collect research data. When there are difficulties in data collection, it delays the processing of information which can hamper advancements in most of the areas. To curb the problem, the Institute uses the local communities as ambassadors for data collection and dissemination.
Involving the community helps in getting first-hand information as well as improving the livelihood of the society through the income generated from data collection. Though it is hard to get proper data transfer equipment due to network connectivity, the strategy has been essential in establishing a good relationship between the institutes and local communities. The institute has been able to secure competitive market for its miners.
There is difficulty in integrating the different social and political environments in the different countries the Institute operates. Different countries have different cultural practices and political needs. The law governing countries differ regarding regulations for mining. The situation poses a challenge to the Institute as it tries to bridge the market gap and the social needs.
Field Report
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Through capacity building programs, the Institute has established relationships with authorities and locals in a bid to stabilize the mining operations. Though there have been misunderstandings between some governments and the Institute, the training programs have been efficient in bridging the gap between the different party’s needs.
Another problem faced by the institute is the gap between technological developments. There is a need for the Institute to keep pace with the growing experience and sophistication of technology that is possessed by the industries. Technology is not the only recipe needed by manufacturers to make products. Manufacturers require the technology as quickly as it gets invented or improvised to meet the market demands of the already competitive industry.
The Institute puts in place strategies to make the technology received by users through the use of digital and information technology. However, some of the technology are heavy and requires training for use. To speed up dissemination of technology, the institute employs a strategy of manufacturer’s participation in research and development.
Since manufacturers are involved in research and development, the main focus becomes improvement of technology production. To make the strategy more practical and relevant, the institute should support quality control and testing work. The strategy lacks the integration of international alliances which would have been helpful in acquiring advanced technology faster.
Field Report
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Though many challenges have loomed the Industrial Technology Research Institute, its team of experts has been strategic in ensuring the institute can meet to the demands of both manufacturers and the consumers. The tin market is an emerging industry that is yet to stabilize in prices, supply, and demand capacities. Involvement of local communities helps in identification of mines and provision of data needed for the formulation of proper extraction techniques.
Against all the challenges, the Institute has been able to provide reliable and accessible market for the miners, stabilize tin mining technology and offer extensive capacity building programs for the miners and local communities. Additionally, the institute has been able to reduce fraud in the mines and developed laws that govern mining process so that revenue generated is not used to fund illegal activities. The institute is still coming up with ways to promote tin innovations.
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iTRi Field Report
Abstract
This report identifies the challenges faced by iTRi and the strategies put in place to solve the problems. Brief history of iTRi is given then the discussion concentrates on challenges the organization if facing, strategies it has put in place, and limitations of the strategies. Challenges include: conflicts by mining firms, fraud and landfill waste. It is concluded that the only way to solve problems is through good governance instead of just addressing the issues. It is recommended that iTRi should incorporate local and national agents in solving its problems.
Introduction
Since it was founded in 1973, iTRi acts as a global representative of the tin industry. Through the organization, gold, wolframite, and tin related minerals are traced in the vertical supply chain. To adequately trace the minerals, the institute collaborates with local government and agents. It also offers advice to the extractive companies as well as offering assistance in auditing and risk assessments.
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Challenges faced by iTRi
A couple of years ago, environmentalists in Europe found out that electric and electrical waste was the main contributing factor to the landfill waste problems. The management in charge of electric and electrical waste came up with stringent policies on electronic waste recycling and recovery. Hence, lead-free soldering technology was used. The technology commonly used by extractive industries around and the iTRi organization has been helping the industries in the application of the technology process through research and development.
After iTRi later learned that there were conflicts between tin mining industries in Congo, it immediately came up with strategies to solve the conflict. Field agents were deployed to the affected areas to assist in data collection and documentation of minerals that were considered to cause conflicts and those that did not cause conflict. However, the situation still posed as a challenge since it was difficult to trace minerals leading to a decline in exports.
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Companies that worked with iTRi helped by tracing data on purchases made. The tracing process used two different types of barcodes that had unique reference numbers as an indicator of the location the purchase was done. The collected data was then input into the iTRi data system and assisted to trace the reference numbers from the mining industry to the smelter. To give consumers confidence in the products, manufacturers used methods such as OECD to provide a transparent supply chain for the minerals in the risky and conflict-affected regions.
EU regulates the mining industries to help in preserving human health and maintain the ecosystem. Gaps were identified in the tin mining industries where the chemicals originating from the mines posed a threat to human health especially from the way it was disposed of. The manufacturers acted promptly by forming a committee that was to carry out research intended to find out tin levels that were acceptable in the environment which didn’t harm human life.
Tin is used as an alternative source of energy. It uses less energy and has a low carbon emission rate. According to research, when tin gets added to fuel, it helps in saving energy as well as the reduction of carbon emissions. When fuel contains some amounts of tin, it emits cleaner gas. As an energy saver, tin helps in environment conservation. Tin use reduces carbon emission by nearly 30% and energy saving by about 15%.
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Limitations of iTRi strategies
With all the strategies put in place by iTRi to improve the tin market, there have been failures in its supply chain giving room for fraud. Warnings were made on Dodd-Frank mineral act since it didn’t seem impressive to generate tangible solutions. The bar-code system has faced criticism that it takes the time to fully function and that it’s also expensive.
On the area of smuggling, there is a lack of accountability since some untagged minerals were illegally found in Numby together with tagged ones and were registered as conflict-free minerals. In Congo, only 10% of the minerals were found to be tagged while 90% were not certified. The question that arises is what happened to the minerals that were not certified and how they were sold without a tag.
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Conclusion
Good governance is the only way to solve the problems faced by the organization. It is impossible to have control over the mining sites all the time. Hence, the organization should improve its system rather than address the issues. iTRi supply chain should be designed in such a way that it involves both the local and national agents and not only involve outside agents for information flow.
Reference list
Andrew Cooper, 2015. ITRI Tin Supply Chain Initiative: Contributing to minerals traceability and due diligence in Central Africa.
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Fair Trade Jewellery
Abstract
This reports aims at establishing the manner in which Fair Trade Jewellery can be mainstreamed. A brief history is described in this paper that clearly looks at the emergence of Fair Trade Jewellery. Additionally, the report also draws an analysis on the challenges the jewelers face in the process of Fair Trade and concludes by giving some thoughtful insights on how this approach may be improved.
Introduction
The purpose of this report is directed towards discovering the manner in which Fair Trade Jewellery can be mainstreamed. The aspect of fair trade Jewellery emerged as one of the responses aimed at tackling the discrepancies that have existed in the current global trade systems that is entirely based on the concepts of free trade. This aspect has evolved to see small organizations buying products from different producers in developing states and selling these products to their acquaintances through a global movement which primarily bases its campaigns of the benefits of such trade networks economies (Alvarado, 2009).
This segment therefore aims at analyzing the manner in which fair trade Jewellery may be mainstreamed or if this aspect of destined as a niche market. Additionally, the section will take an analysis of some of the challenges that jewelers face with the aim of making this a reality.
The Mainstreaming of Fair Trade Jewellery
It is clear to determine the fact that Fair Trade Jewellery offers practicable support directed towards combating the aspect of poverty and approaches that offer structural change on the unjustified trade relations (PR, 2015). The mainstreaming of Fair Trade Jewellery can in this case be depicted as the process of Fair Trade Jewellery economic actors developing approaches aimed at moving from a fully operation of Fair Trade value chain to the increase of operation in conventional market value chain. In achieving the goals of mainstreaming, the introduction and inclusion of product certification is considered, a factor that opens up possibilities for value chains with other mainstream actors.
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A fair approach of trade in this case is one that is characterized by approaches aimed at ensuring that both the social and environmental standards are adhered to, with this considered as an effective approach that ensures the sustainability of the environment and other livelihoods. However, it is essential to also consider the extent at which sustainable use of the environment and sustainable livelihood can be viewed (Jeevananda, 2015).
Fair-trade Jewellery production is one that has several defining elements that include the making of products from different materials. On the other hand, the producer organizations tend to operate in a highly segmented market where products are considered to be relatively expensive and are high in quality with most of the sales of these products done in the Western countries.
Additionally, it is vital to point that organizations that engage in Fair Trade Jewellery have a social mission with profit considered as not the only goal of the operations. In consideration of the aspect of mainstreaming, it is vital to note that organisations are required to comply with the Fair Trade criteria’s (Boyd, 2014). Mainstreaming in this case creates the opportunity for these organizations to increase their sales, spread the risks noted in the industry and learn the different enterprenual skills that come from mainstreaming enterprises.
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Challenges that Jewelers Face
Considering the fact that Fair Trade jewelries sales continue to grow as a result of the growth in new geographical markets, few consumers are in a position to pay the much required for the products, a factor that points out to some of the challenges that this jewelers face (Child, 2015).
It can therefore be argued that since more consumer are not willing to pay the prices for the developed product that would ensure Fair Trade standards are meet within the value chain, then growth in this industry is considered as impossible. On the other hand, several handicraft markets are also characterized by the oversupply and the aspect of poor economic prospects, a factor that has been considered as the reasons why price variables can be viewed in the industry.
Conclusion
This report has clearly discovered that the aspect of fair trade Jewellery emerged as one of the responses aimed at tackling the discrepancies that have existed in the current global trade systems that is entirely based on the concepts of free trade. Fair Trade Jewellery offers practicable support directed towards combating the aspect of poverty and approaches that offer structural change on the unjustified trade relations (Child, 2015).
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The mainstreaming of Fair Trade Jewellery can in this case be depicted as the process of Fair Trade Jewellery economic actors developing approaches aimed at moving from a fully operation Of Fair Trade value chain to the increase of operation in conventional market value chain. In achieving the goals of mainstreaming, the introduction and inclusion of product certification is considered, a factor that opens up possibilities for value chains with other mainstream actors. Some of the challenges that the jewelers encounter in this industry include the, few consumers being in a position to pay the much required for the products.
Jeevananda, S. (2015). Effectiveness of Market Development Assistance Scheme In Handloom And Gems And Jewellery Sectors In India. Scholedge International Journal Of Management & Development, 2(8), 37-50.
PR, N. (2015, December 8). Singapore Jewellery & Gem Fair 2015: A Triumphant Chapter for International Fine Jewellery. PR Newswire US.
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THE ROLE OF CIVIL SOCIETY IN ENSURING A QUALITATIVE EITI REPORT
Introduction
The Extractive Industry Transparency (EITI) was established in 2002 at the World Summit on Sustainable development in South Africa. This brought together several key actors such as companies, the global coalition of governments, and civil society organizations with the aim of getting investors to promote transparency in the receipt and payment of natural resources and revenues.
This essay therefore seeks to examine the role of the civil society in ensuring a qualitative EITI report. This can be seen in the manner in which revenues generated from the minerals and oil is in this case utilized in the transformation of different economies with the aim of reducing poverty and raising the standards of living for different population in resource-rich nations (Sovacool, & Andrews, 2015).
When different states introduce the element of EITI, the governments within these states make a commitment of strengthening the aspect of transparency in its natural resource revenues with the citizens of these states also committing to holding the government accountable in the manner in which these resources are dispensed. This aids in the building of prosperous and stable societies that function in an effective manner in the global economy.
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On the other hand, much of ETI’s development is owed to the civil society. This clearly depicts the fact that without the existence of the civil society, ETI would not be functional. This is attributed to the fact that the civil society makes concerted advocacy approaches that sees the extractive companies publish their payments to the host governments. Consequently, close to 400 civil society organizations have been committed to the participation of governance through the implementation of ETI in resource rich states around the globe (Sovacool, & Andrews, 2015).
ETI in this case provides a governance approach that advances revenue transparency within the gas, mining and oil sector through an approach that stresses the need of multi-stakeholder approach with integrated roles of the civil society, the governments and extractive companies. Thus the key elements of the success of this approach lies in the ability of developing dialogue that fosters the collaboration between different players in the development, monitoring and evaluation of EITI.
The engagement of the civil society occurs in overseeing the implementation of EITI in countries and within the international EITI board. The civil society organizations therefore remains fully involved in the EITI process through the publication of EITI reports and in the use of figures within these reports. This paper therefore seeks to determine the role of civil society in ensuring a qualitative EITI report.
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The EITI Principles
According to Aaronson (2011), the EITI principles were first developed in one of the conferences that were held in London in 2003. During this conference, a diverse group of states, civil society organizations and companies including the investors agreed upon a statement of principles that were develop to ensure there is an increase in transparency over the payments of revenues in the extractive sector. These therefore saw the EITI principles that are considered as the cornerstone of this initiative. Some of the principles that EITI presents include:
EITI believes in the aspect of prudently using natural resources as an essential element for the development of a sustainable economy and development that would in turn impact poverty reduction approaches (Aaronson, 2011). If the proponents of EITI are not fairly management, this would result in a negative economic and social impact.
EITI on the other hand affirms the management of wealth accrued from natural resources to benefit the citizens of a country within the domains of sovereign governments, a factor that needs to be exercised within the interests of national development.
Additionally, EITI affirms that the benefit it’s accrued from the extraction of mineral resources occurs over a revenue stream over a long period of time, a factor that depicts the high dependency on the prices (Aaronson, 2011). In other words, EITI recognizes that there is a need that a public understanding of the revenue generated by the government and expenditures could aid in public debates that inform in the making of public choices and options that are driven for sustainable development.
The process also underlines the essence of transparency by governments and organizations within the extractive industry and the significance of enhancing a public financial management and accountability system through a strategy that focuses in respect of laws and contracts (Aaronson, 2011).
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Benefits for Local Communities and Civil Society Organisations
The general climate of transparency is one that ensures the civil society groups are empowered. An instance of this can be viewed in the implementation of EITI that facilitates the public participation in governance and improves the access to information for civil societies. The local community in this case benefits from the increases in revenues, while the aspect of accountability, justice, good governance and anti-corruption are promoted and reinforced (Aaronson, 2011).
Civil society organizations are also meant to benefit from the improved relations and influence with governments and companies including the increased opportunities that are directed towards building and strengthening different networks with the international organizations and investors, strengthened public institutions, enhanced governance and citizens who are aware of the empowerment.
The Role of Civil Society in Ensuring a Qualitative EITI Report
As argued, a solid participation of the civil society has the capacity to lead the way in the better implementation and a reinforced disclosure of high quality EITI reports. However, the participation of the civil society needs to be observed in the delivery of EITI results that go beyond the principles of dialogue and the dissemination of reports. It is essential to note that the civil society’s engagement role in ensuring a qualitative EITI report occurs both on the international EITI Boards and in the countries that implement the EITI process as part of the multi-stakeholder groups that have the capacity to oversee the EITI (Holden, & Jacobson, 2007).
Civil society organizations in this case are granted the opportunity for involvement in the process of EITI from the preparation to the publication of EITI reports and most essentially in the use of the figures presented in the EITI reports. These groups therefore mirror the structures of the EITI Board in which the relevant stakeholders are considered to play an inherent and valuable role in the determination of governance in the EITI priorities.
The civil society in this case has the capacity to discuss the aspects of revenue transparency and increasingly contribute their experiences and expertise in fostering dialogues with different stakeholders. In some states, the civil society groups are considered to be in the forefront in popularizing EITI. In other regions, the civil society also works to support the legislative process that aims at strengthening and advancing the agendas of resource and revenue transparency (Holden, & Jacobson, 2007).
This clearly depicts that the role of the civil society can be seen in their activities that can be viewed in the monitoring and implementation of national dialogue on the issues that are not covered directly by EITI including the use of revenues that are accrued from the extractive sector.
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Experiences that emerge from the implementation of EITI clearly shows that the civil society groups are bound to face several challenges within a state’s level that include the lack of capacity constraints, the lack of resources and other security issues (Pal, & Pantaleo, 2008). However, the EITI Board has a functionally developed range of policy responses that are determined in the strengthening of the EITI requirements aimed at ensuring the civil society groups are fully interdependent and are provided with the opportunity to get engaged within the stages of EITI process.
Within the context of governance and development, the civil society is considered as a third sector that is distinct from the business and government that are functioning as an intermediary institution in ensuring that the issues that deal with the interests of the public within the public domain are coordinated through advocacy (Pal, & Pantaleo, 2008).
The goal of this is to ensure these issues are addressed and effectively implemented in order to serve the common interest and good of the society. This depicts that the civil society includes and is not limited to institutions and other groups that include the independent media, religious groups, professional associations, student unions, labor unions, community and township union’s, citizen advocacy organizations among others.
The non-governmental organizations in this case through their activities, principled positions and strong beliefs have the capacity of voicing out their principled positions to the sectors of the society through an approach that promotes discussions, debates, and constructive engagements. These roles are developed to enrich the public’s participation in the decision making process thus strengthening good governance, accountability and democratic principles (Frynas, 2010).
It could be argued out that these reasons determine the manner in which the concepts of EITI is built on a multi-stakeholder approach that involves several key players such as the government, the civil society and other companies. These stakeholders therefore play distinct roles in the EITI process. However, the civil society plays an essential role in the streamlining of the processes of EITI even though these roles are considered as unclear in several implementing countries. Some of the roles of the civil society would also include:
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Identification
The civil society organizations beside the aspect of dialogue also share the view that it is their responsibility to identify the key issues that are within the interest of the public and that relate to the mandate of the EITI process that are directed towards extractive revenue transparency, the process of governance and ensure that the identified issues are addressed and brought within the public domain for debate and dialogue (Calland, & Bentley, 2013).
Some of the issues that the civil society organizations clearly focus on include the process of leasing, oil block allocations, bidding rounds, the issuance of mining licenses, physical, financial and process management, the environmental standards and so on. Governance in this case can only be improved in the event that the lapses in the issues that are identified with the civil society organizations are identifies and channeled as tools for advocacy.
Agenda Setting
The civil society is different states consider the aspect of agenda setting as their traditional responsibility and a primary tool of their engagement (Calland, & Bentley, 2013). Under these roles, the civil society organizations identify some of the issues that are related to the EITI mandate and use these issues to set national and international agendas for the publics discourse, debate and engagement with the governments and the extractive revenue companies with the aim of improving the aspect of governance through a transparent process and accountability that is done through the use of EITI frameworks.
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Public Education and Enlightenment
The element of public education and enlightenment in this case is another role of the civil society even though individuals tend to think these needs to be left for the media alone. The civil society therefore makes use of these roles to command influence through the use of both the informal and formal approaches of communication in a language that gives understanding to the people.
This would in some instances call for the development of deliberate staged events that would see the inclusion of conferences, workshops, town meetings and other events directed towards enlightenment and education on the EITI process and extractive revenues (Mejía Acosta, 2013). However, it is vital to consider the fact that where literacy levels are considerably low and the government’s involvement in the organization of programs are viewed with mistrust and suspicion, the achievement of this role may be challenging.
Agents of Social Mobilization and Change
The civil society organizations also make use of the fact that for the process of EITI to secure the public’s interests required within the sector, there is a need of providing a supporting role-that of acting as the agents of social mobilization and change (Mejía Acosta, 2013).
In this case, it is essential to consider that these roles include the sustained mobilization of the opinions of the public with the aim of advancing the course of the EITI process within the areas of legislative processes and policy formulations. These are known and have been considered to come in the form of peaceful protests, resource mechanization and petitions.
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Monitoring and Oversight
It is additionally essential to consider that the civil society organizations are also tasked with the responsibility of monitoring the processes and programs of EITI including the policies and the unfolding events within the extractive sector and ensure that accurate reports and facts are provided with the view of directing the appropriate course of action that can improve the process of governance (Mejía Acosta, 2014).
The monitoring and oversight in this case needs to be community based and people driven, In order to carry out these functions in an effective manner, the civil society organizations, there is a need of adequately equipping the civil society organizations on the issues that are directed towards strengthening the EITI process in discharging its full mandates.
Advisory
Advisory in this case gives the position of the civil society organizations as some of the professionals within this field that offer fair, profound, qualitative and constructive advice to the EITI processes and in the implementation of an effective EITI process (Mejía Acosta, 2014). The EITI Board in this case needs to be open to advices within the areas of their operations and publicly acknowledge the contribution of the civil society within the EITI process.
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Whistle Blowing
The civil society remains in a better position to blow the whistle in the event that extractive revenue transparency functions of the EITI process are not clearly following their mandates. This would therefore see the civil society active is in the exposition of fraudulent practices, process lapses, bribery, corruption, and dishonest dealings with individuals at any stage within the EITI process (Magner, 2015).
The functions of whistle blowing as conducted by the civil society may also be used to attract and draw the attention of the areas that have achieved poor performance and that have been neglected and the failures in the rise of statutory responsibilities (Mejía Acosta, 2014). The use of this tool in advocacy in this case comes in different dimensions. This function keeps the EITI Board involved in solving some of the issues that are raised in order to function in an effective manner. The civil society needs to be equipped with integrity, knowledge and facts within this interest.
Observation
The civil society has the mandate of taking up the roles of being the observers within certain activities in the EITI process in consultation with the Board and the secretariat. These roles also include the formulation of procurement processes for some of the projects, budget preparations, the development of annual work-plans, and meetings held with the public in situations that are advisable (Magner, 2015).
In performing these roles, civil society organizations are considered to have the right to engage in independent reporting of these events and give EITI Board the opportunity to make their final comments on these reports before they are disseminated.
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Feedback
The role of the civil society in providing feedback in this case is considered as essential and desirable within the processes of EITI (Mouan, 2010). Many of the civil society organizations in this case draw from professional groupings, coalitions, and clusters and take up the full charge and role of providing adequate feedback to their states through a process that extends to the larger publics interests with the aim of addressing the issues of interests.
In this case, it is arguable that the civil society besides engaging in dialogue within the EITI process is also engaged in several other processes. The general climate of transparency is one that ensures the civil society groups are empowered. An instance of this can be viewed in the implementation of EITI that facilitates the public participation in governance and improves the access to information for civil societies (Mouan, 2010).
The local community in this case benefits from the increases in revenues, while the aspect of accountability, justice, good governance and anti-corruption are promoted and reinforced. The engagement of the civil society occurs in overseeing the implementation of EITI in countries and within the international EITI board. The civil society organizations therefore remains fully involved in the EITI process through the publication of EITI reports and in the use of figures within these reports. This paper therefore seeks to determine the role of civil society in ensuring a qualitative EITI report.
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Conclusion
As determined in this study, the Extractive Industry Transparency (EITI) was established in 2002 at the World Summit on Sustainable development in South Africa. This brought together several key actors such as companies, the global coalition of governments and civil society organizations with the aim of getting investors to promote transparency in the receipt and payment of natural resources and revenues (Mouan, 2010).
EITI in this case provides a governance approach that advances revenue transparency within the gas, mining, and oil sector through an approach that stresses the need of multi-stakeholder approach with integrated roles of the civil society, the governments and extractive companies. Thus the key elements of the success of this approach lies in the ability of developing dialogue that fosters the collaboration between different players in the development, monitoring and evaluation of EITI.
The solid participation of the civil society has the capacity to lead the way in the better implementation and a reinforced disclosure of high quality EITI reports. This can be achieved when the civil society in this case has the capacity to discuss the aspects of revenue transparency and increasingly contribute their experiences and expertise in fostering dialogues with different stakeholders. In some states, the civil society groups are considered to be in the forefront in popularizing EITI.
In other regions, the civil society also works to support the legislative process that aims at strengthening and advancing the agendas of resource and revenue transparency (Mouan, 2010). Additionally, beside the aspect of dialogue, the civil society also shares the view that it is their responsibility to identify the key issues that are within the interest of the public and that relate to the mandate of the EITI process that are directed towards extractive revenue transparency, the process of governance and ensure that the identified issues are addressed and brought within the public domain for debate and dialogue.
Within the context of governance and development, the civil society is considered as a third sector that is distinct from the business and government that are functioning as an intermediary institution in ensuring that the issues that deal with the interests of the public within the public domain are coordinated through advocacy.
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Calland, R., & Bentley, K. (2013). The Impact and Effectiveness of Transparency and Accountability Initiatives: Freedom of Information. Development Policy Review, 31s69-s87. doi:10.1111/dpr.12020
Frynas, J. (2010). Corporate Social Responsibility and Societal Governance: Lessons from Transparency in the Oil and Gas Sector. Journal of Business Ethics, 93163-179. doi:10.1007/s10551-010-0559-1
Magner, A. L. (2015). Drilling for Disclosure: Resource Extraction Issuer Disclosure and American Petroleum Institute v. SEC. Journal of Corporation Law, 40(2), 521-537.
Mejía Acosta, A. (2013). The Impact and Effectiveness of Accountability and Transparency Initiatives: The Governance of Natural Resources. Development Policy Review, 31s89-s105. doi:10.1111/dpr.12021
Mejía Acosta, A. (2014). The Impact and Effectiveness of Accountability and Transparency Initiatives: The Governance of Natural Resources. Development Policy Review, 31s89-s105. doi:10.1111/dpr.12021
Mouan, L. C. (2010). Exploring the potential benefits of Asian participation in the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative: The case of China. Business Strategy & the Environment (John Wiley & Sons, Inc), 19(6), 367-376. doi:10.1002/bse.687
Pal, N., & Pantaleo, D. C. (2008). From Strategy to Execution: Turning Accelerated Global Change into Opportunity. Berlin: Springer.
Sovacool, B. K., & Andrews, N. (2015). Does transparency matter? Evaluating the governance impacts of the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) in Azerbaijan and Liberia. Resources Policy, 45183-192. doi:10.1016/j.resourpol.2015.04.003
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Abstract
This report therefore seeks to examine the role of the civil society in ensuring a qualitative EITI report. This can be seen in the manner in which revenues generated from the minerals and oil is in this case utilized in the transformation of different economies with the aim of reducing poverty and raising the standards of living for different population in resource-rich nations.
The Role of Civil Society in Ensuring a Qualitative EITI Report
Introduction
The purpose of this report is to establish the involvement of the civil society in determining an EITI qualitative reporting. The paper will critically establish the functions of the civil society the process of EITI qualitative reporting. It is vital to consider that states that incorporate the element of EITI make a commitment to strengthen the aspect of transparency in the revenues generated from its natural resource revenues. The citizens of these states are also accorded the responsibility of holding the state and the government accountable on how these resources are dispensed (Disclosure as Governance 2010). This aids in the building of prosperous and stable societies that function in an effective manner in the global economy.
On the other hand, much of ETI’s development is owed to the civil society. This clearly depicts the fact that without the existence of the civil society, ETI would not be functional. This is attributed to the fact that the civil society makes concerted advocacy approaches that sees the extractive companies publish their payments to the host governments. Consequently, close to 400 civil society organizations have been committed to the participation of governance through the implementation of ETI in resource rich states around the globe (Sovacool, & Andrews, 2015).
ETI in this case incorporates and approach of governance that advances the element of revenue transparency within the mining, gas, and oil sector through an approach that stresses the need of multi-stakeholder approach with integrated roles of the civil society, the governments and extractive companies (Topal, & Toledano, 2013). Thus the key elements of the success of this approach lies in the ability of developing dialogue that fosters the collaboration between different players in the development, monitoring and evaluation of EITI process. The engagement and functions of the civil society occurs in its approach aimed at overseeing the implementation of EITI in countries and within the international EITI board (Lehrer, & Delaunay, 2009).
EITI Background
In 2002, at the World Summit for Sustainable Development, United Kingdom’s Prime Minister Tony Blair launched the EITI process as the future global transparency standard. As a coalition of different stakeholders came together, expectations were heightened towards believing that through governance and accountability, nations, companies and other players in the economy would improve their share of revenues being spent on economic growth and poverty reduction.
In this case, the process of EITI has been promoted in international development agendas as an instrument that will finitely establish and develop the resource-rich countries to reap the benefits of their resource endowments, a factor that has exhibited excessive expectations about the impact it could have. The G8 has critically emphasised its support for the EITI process, by initiating effective approaches aimed at improving its transparency, accountability, and good governance and thereby leading to sustainable economic growth in the extractive sector.
The EITI Principles
According to Aaronson (2011), the EITI principles were first initiated in conferences that were held in London in 2003. During these conferences, several states, investors and civil society organizations reaches a consensus on the principles that were required in order to establish transparency over the payments of revenues in the extractive sector (Murphy, 2012).
The EITI aspect holds on the belief that prudence should be a key aspect in the use of natural resources for the development of a sustainable economy and development that would in turn impact poverty reduction approaches (Aaronson, 2011). If the proponents of EITI are not fairly management, this would result in a negative economic and social impact.
EITI on the other hand acknowledge the initiatives directed towards managing wealth that is gained from natural resources with the aim of benefiting the citizens of a state within the domains of sovereign governments, a factor that needs to be initiated within the interests of a national state (Sovacool & Andrews, 2015). EITI also takes into consideration the benefit accrued from the extraction of mineral resources, occurring over a revenue stream for a period of time, a factor that depicts the high dependency on the prices (Aaronson, 2011).
Benefits for Local Communities and Civil Society Organisations
The local community is considered to be the single most beneficiary of the benefits that arise from the increases in revenues. This can be viewed in the efforts that have been developed to ensure resource accountability through good governance, and justice, with the aim of mitigating the element of corruption are promoted and reinforced (Aaronson, 2011). The civil society organizations are also considered as part of the beneficiaries of these efforts as seen in the improved relations developed to influence governments and companies in the process. This can be viewed in their efforts directed towards:
Increasing the opportunities aimed at building and strengthening different networks with the international organizations and investors.
Strengthening public institutions.
Enhancing governance and citizens who are aware of the empowerment.
The climate of transparency is one that ensures the civil society groups are empowered. An instance of this can be viewed in the implementation of EITI that facilitates the public participation in governance and improves the access to information for civil societies. The local community is aimed at profiting from the increases in revenues. The element of justice, accountability, good governance are promoted and reinforced with the aim of mitigating corrupt practices during the process (Aaronson, 2011).
The Role of Civil Society in EITI Reporting
As argued, the solid involvement and participation of the civil society is considered as essential since it has the capacity to better implement and a reinforce the initiation of a high quality EITI reporting approach. Participation of the civil society needs to be observed in the delivery of EITI results that go beyond the principles of dialogue and the dissemination of reports (PR, 2013). Engagement of the civil society’s in ensuring a qualitative EITI report occurs at different levels that include: the international EITI Boards and the states that implement the EITI process as part of the multi-stakeholder groups that have the capacity to oversee the EITI (Holden, & Jacobson, 2007).
The civil society as attributed in the process has the powers and initiative to discuss and establish the genuineness of the aspects of revenue transparency and increasingly contribute their experiences and expertise in fostering dialogues with different stakeholders. In some states, the civil society groups are considered to be in the forefront in popularizing EITI. In other regions, the civil society works in supporting legislative processes that are directed towards the strengthening and advancing of the states the agendas on resource and revenue transparency (Holden, & Jacobson, 2007).
This clearly depicts that the role of the civil society has the capacity to monitor and engage in the implementation of national dialogue in addressing some of the issues that are not covered directly by EITI such as the use of revenues that are accrued from the extractive sector.
Experiences that emerge from the implementation of EITI clearly shows that the civil society groups are bound to face several challenges within a state’s level that include the lack of capacity constraints, the lack of resources and other security issues (Pal, & Pantaleo, 2008). EITI Board has a functionally developed range of policy responses that are determined in the strengthening of the EITI requirements aimed at ensuring the civil society groups are fully interdependent and are provided with the opportunity to get engaged within the stages of EITI process.
Within the context of governance and development, the civil society is considered as a third sector that is distinct from the business and government that are functioning as an intermediary institution in ensuring that the issues that deal with the interests of the public within the public domain are coordinated through advocacy (Pal, & Pantaleo, 2008). The goal of this is to ensure these issues are addressed and effectively implemented in order to serve the common interest and good of the society
The non-governmental organizations through their involvement and activities, strong beliefs and principled positions voice out their views and positions to the sectors of the society through an approach that promotes discussions, debates, and constructive engagements. These roles are developed to enrich the public’s participation in the decision-making process thus strengthening good governance, accountability and democratic principles (Frynas, 2010).
These reasons therefore determine the manner in which the concepts of EITI are developed and built through an approach that engages a multi-stakeholder approach. This approach involves several key players such as the government, the civil society and other companies who play different roles in the EITI process. The civil society plays an integral role in reforming the EITI process even in situations where these roles are unclear in several implementing countries. The roles of the civil society would also include:
Identification
The civil society organizations beside the aspect of dialogue also share the view that it is their responsibility to identify the key issues that are within the interest of the public and that relate to the mandate of the EITI process that are directed towards extractive revenue transparency, the process of governance and ensure that the identified issues are addressed and brought within the public domain for debate and dialogue (Calland, & Bentley, 2013). Some of the issues that the civil society organizations clearly focus on include the process of leasing, oil block allocations, bidding rounds, the issuance of mining licenses, physical, financial and process management, the environmental standards and so on.
Agenda Setting
The civil society is different states consider the aspect of agenda setting as their traditional responsibility and a primary tool of their engagement (Calland, & Bentley, 2013). Under these roles, the civil society organizations identify some of the issues that are related to the EITI mandate and use these issues to set national and international agendas for the publics discourse, debate and engagement with the governments and the extractive revenue companies with the aim of improving the aspect of governance through a transparent process and accountability that is done through the use of EITI frameworks.
Public Education and Enlightenment
The element of public education and enlightenment in this case is another role of the civil society even though individuals tend to think these needs to be left for the media alone (Shenton, & Hay-Gibson, 2009).
Agents of Social Mobilization and Change
The civil society organizations also makes use of the fact that for the process of EITI to secure the public’s interests required within the sector, there is a need of providing a supporting role-that of acting as the agents of social mobilization and change (Mejía Acosta, 2013). In this case, it is essential to consider that these roles include the sustained mobilization of the opinions of the public with the aim of advancing the course of the EITI process within the areas of legislative processes and policy formulations. These are known and have been considered to come in the form of peaceful protests, resource mechanization and petitions.
Monitoring and Oversight
It is additionally essential to consider that the civil society organizations are also tasked with the responsibility of monitoring the processes and programs of EITI including the policies and the unfolding events within the extractive sector and ensure that accurate reports and facts are provided with the view of directing the appropriate course of action that can improve the process of governance (Mejía Acosta, 2014). The monitoring and oversight in this case needs to be community based and people driven, In order to carry out these functions in an effective manner (Caspary, 2012).
Advisory
Advisory in this case gives the position of the civil society organizations as some of the professionals within this field that offer fair, profound, qualitative and constructive advice to the EITI processes and in the implementation of an effective EITI process (Mejía Acosta, 2014). The EITI Board in this case needs to be open to advices within the areas of their operations and publicly acknowledge the contribution of the civil society within the EITI process.
Whistle Blowing
The civil society remains in a better position to blow the whistle in the event that extractive revenue transparency functions of the EITI process are not clearly following their mandates. This would therefore see the civil society active is in the exposition of fraudulent practices, process lapses, bribery, corruption, and dishonest dealings with individuals at any stage within the EITI process (Magner, 2015). The functions of whistle blowing as conducted by the civil society may also be used to attract and draw the attention of the areas that have achieved poor performance and that have been neglected and the failures in the rise of statutory responsibilities (Mejía Acosta, 2014).
Observation
The civil society has the mandate of taking up the roles of being the observers within certain activities in the EITI process in consultation with the Board and the secretariat. These roles also include the formulation of procurement processes for some of the projects, budget preparations, the development of annual work-plans, and meetings held with the public in situations that are advisable (Eigen, 2013). In performing these roles, civil society organizations are considered to have the right to engage in independent reporting of these events and give EITI Board the opportunity to make their final comments on these reports before they are disseminated.
Feedback
The role of the civil society in providing feedback in this case is considered as essential and desirable within the processes of EITI (Mouan, 2010). Many of the civil society organizations in this case draw from professional groupings, coalitions, and clusters and take up the full charge and role of providing adequate feedback to their states through a process that extends to the larger publics interests with the aim of addressing the issues of interests.
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Examples of Restricted Civil Society Group Cases
It is essential to establish that there are a number of examples that depict the restrictions of the civil society in the process of EITI. In one of the illustrations, the government of Congo can be viewed in the detention and trial of two Publishers Brice Mackosso and Christian Mounzeo who tried to publish the state of the nation as opposed to the governments view.
In other countries such as Equatorial Guinea that believe in the authoritarian style of leadership, the situation is conceived to be worse. In Guinea, the President then-Teodoro Obiang Nguema and his government have overtime been criticised by NGOs and other civil society organizations for placing restrictions on the basic civil and political rights, such as freedom of expression.
This therefore determines the fact that the space civil society involvement through activism on issues corruption and transparency remains non-existent as viewed in this states (PWYP, 2006). However, it is essential to determine that a government only has the capacity and power to restrict supporters who contend for transparency in a more discreet way.
For instance, this can be seen in the case of Nigeria where Nuhu Ribadu, who was considered as the head of t Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) then was forced to resign and requested to attend a one year course in policy studies in consideration of the fact that the EFCC had come too close to top policy layers and had arrested several governors for corrupt practices (The Economist, 5 January 2008).
Civil Society is not Strong and Independent enough to take on the Responsibility that EITI Implies
In as much as the formal structure of the EITI process suggestively gives that governments responsibility for the implementation of the EITI process, much responsibility is put on civil society. Civil society in this case is given the power and autonomy to pressure the governments to join their initiatives. Civil society has the power to scrutinise and request for clear information of the figures presented in the EITI reports (in spite of the fact that most reports reveal very limited information), and to determine the manner in which the finances are utilized by the organisations extractive sector works, the payment types utilized, the relevant government receiving the payments and the accountability of these payments.
The list of the expectations from the civil society organizations remain long and for the countries in need of the EITI. In considering that the extractive sectors are, legally, technically and financially complex makes this approach difficult to achieve. In general, the EITI process requires an environment of justice and accountability in order to be implemented.
This therefore requires an environment where the civil society is empowered in knowledge and is considered as independent with the leaders within these organizations elected through a transparent approach that inclusively engages the democratic powers of the system. There is a need of ensuring that there are no conflict of interest that arises between the government, citizens, and the extractive industries.
The voices of the civil society organisations as viewed in this process can be alleged to affirm these organizations limitations within the EITI framework. Aaronson (2008) notes in several countries, the multi-stakeholder approach are an essential element that inhibits these organizations in the departure from the prevailing institutional and political norms. As a result of this, the civil society is incapacitated to effectively participate in the EITI process. In some states, the nongovernmental organisations (NGOs) are considered as autonomous since government officials are given the tasks of appointing the stakeholder groups rather than giving the citizens and NGOs opportunities to choose their representatives.
Discussion of Results
It is arguable that the civil society besides engaging in dialogue within the EITI process is also engaged in several other processes. An instance of this can be viewed in the implementation of EITI that facilitates the public participation in governance and improves the access to information for civil societies (Mouan, 2010). The local community in this case benefits from the increases in collected revenues that are channeled in projects, while of justice, accountability, and good governance on the part of the civil society are promoted and reinforced. The engagement of the civil society occurs in overseeing the implementation of EITI in countries and within the international EITI board (Walden, Jerome, & Miller, 2007).
Recommendation
Beside the aspect of dialogue, the civil society also shares the view that it is their responsibility to identify the key issues that are within the interest of the public and that relate to the mandate of the EITI process that are directed towards extractive revenue transparency, the process of governance and ensure that the identified issues are addressed and brought within the public domain for debate and dialogue (Frynas, 2010).
Within the context of governance and development, the civil society is considered as a third sector that is distinct from the business and government that are functioning as an intermediary institution in ensuring that the issues that deal with the interests of the public within the public domain are coordinated through advocacy.
Conclusion
In this reports, it is established that in 2002, at the World Summit for Sustainable Development, United Kingdom’s Prime Minister Tony Blair launched the EITI process as the future global transparency standard. As a coalition of different stakeholders came together, expectations were heightened towards believing that through governance and accountability, nations, companies and other players in the economy would improve their share of revenues being spent on economic growth and poverty reduction.
As determined in this report, the EITI in this case provides a governance approach that advances revenue transparency within the gas, mining, and oil sector through an approach that stresses the need of multi-stakeholder approach with integrated roles of the civil society, the governments and extractive companies.
The solid involvement and participation of the civil society leads the way in the implementation and a reinforcement of high quality EITI reports. This can be achieved when the civil society in this case has the capacity to discuss the aspects of revenue transparency and increasingly contribute their experiences and expertise in fostering dialogues with different stakeholders.
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