1.

INTRODUCTION
The Ethiopian Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EEITI) is a part of a global standard
called the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI). The objective of the EITI is to
ensure that the taxes, royalties and other fees paid by companies for the extraction of a countrys
natural resources are used for the general benefit of the nation. Ethiopia signed up to the EITI
and the initiative was formally launched by the Government of the country in 2009 and. The core
function of the EEITI is the regular verification, disclosure, publication and dissemination of all
material payments made by companies operating in the oil, gas and mining sectors to the
Government, and all material revenues received by the Government from these sectors.

Currently, Ethiopian Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) is strongly working to

ensure transparency and accountability in the Extractive sector and thereby to enable the country
benefit from the sector and also achieve its EITI compliance. This also would lead the country to
ensure sustainable development in the sector. As one of the most important activity to be
performed in the process of ensuring this is building the capacity of its stakeholders, the
Ethiopian EITI National Steering Committee has planned to build the capacity of its stakeholders
both at the national and regional level and conducted various workshops at different levels.

Additionally, the Ethiopian EITI Steering Committee has conducted a two days workshop (27th
28th October 2015) for its stakeholders in Amhara regional state at Blue Nile Hotel, Bahir Dar,
Ethiopia where a total of 316 participants (283 male & 33 female) from different concerned
sectors of the Federal, Regional, Zonal and Woreda level are participated.

2. The General Objectives of the Workshop:

The workshop is conducted with the following general objectives:

To promote transparency and accountability in the sector, and

To ensure sustainable development in the Extractive Sector.

3. The Specific Objectives of the Workshop

The workshop is conducted with the following specific objectives:

To create awareness on EEITI;

To raise the stakeholders understanding on legal issues related to the sector;
 To strengthen the relationship and coordination among the Federal and Regional
stakeholders;
To create conducive environment for both Extractive Companies and Artisanal and Small
Scale Miners;
To ensure the effective implementation of EEITI;
To increase the commitment of all stakeholders towards the management of natural
minerals; and
To increase the amount of revenue generated from the Extractive Sectors.

4. Major Comments and Questions raised by the participants:

Comments:-
Conducting such kind of program is seen to be problem solving. So this kind of
program should be conducted at the presence of the local communities living
around the mining sites on a continual basis particularly at the local level where
different minerals are mined;
The issue of data management is seen to be poor at all levels. So the mechanism
should be put in place to tackle this problem;
Issues related to licensing and administrating ASM need to be free from
bureaucracy and should be in the way that will attract and involve more youths;
There should be a system which involves the security bodies in the prevention and
control of illegal marketing of the minerals;
The administrative bodies at different levels are not working recognizing that the
sector is an engine for our countrys development. Therefore, they have to act
recognizing the contribution of the sector to our countrys economy;
Our Governments commitment to promote transparency and accountability in the
sector is something which needs to be appreciated. We all are expected to
contribute our share to ensure the effective implementation of EITI in our
country.

Questions:-
What experiences are gained from the countries that have started implementing EITI
earlier than our country?
What is the big picture of EEITI in bringing our country to the middle income countries?
There is high illegal mining and marketing of minerals in the region. More specifically,
there is illegal market channel around the areas where Opal is mined. But this illegal
market has great impact on our revenue generation, creating employment opportunities
and others. So how do we tackle this problem?
 The integration and coordination among stakeholders at the Federal & Regional level
seems to be weak. How do we improve it?
Most of the time we see that efforts are seen after the problems would exist. Why dont
we work by forming synergy before the problem exists?
Majority of the Miners (both Extractive Companies and ASMs) do not act
environmentally friendly i.e. there is no much environmental protection activities ever
done. So, what will be the way forward to reverse this issue and enable them act
environmentally friendly?
To enable the EEITI NSC have the necessary information on what is going on the ground
up to the local areas, why dont we incorporate NSC members from the regions?
What is the way forward to attract more investors on the mining of Opal?

Accordingly, the presentation of the workshop is presented pictorially as follows

Program announcement by Public Relation of Mines Bureau Agency on November

26, 2015 at Bahr Dar, Ethiopia.
Well coming Message by Mr. Getachew Jenber the Head of the TEVET Enter Prize
Development Public Relation of Mines Bureau Agency on November 26, 2015 at Bahr Dar,
Ethiopia.

Opening program of the workshop of the mining stakeholders of the region by H.E Mr.
Tewodros Gebreegziabher State Minister of Ministry of Mines, Petroleum and Natural Gas on
November 26, 2015 at Bahr Dar , Ethiopia.
Brief Presentation on the advantages of Ethiopian Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative
(EEITI) for the Companies, Governments and Civil Societies by Mr. Merga Kenea the country
Head of the secretariat of EEITI on November 26, 2015 at Bahr Dar, Ethiopia.

Brief presentation on Artsanal Mining by Mr. Tewoldebirhan Abay the Department Head of
ASM of MOMPNG, on November 26, 2015 at Bahr Dar , Ethiopia.
Brief presentation on Mining Legal Affairs by Mr. Tsehay Mulugeta the Department Head of
Legal Affairs of MOMPNG, on November 26, 2015 at Bahr Dar , Ethiopia.

Discussion on the problems faced on process mining by Mr. Zewdu Legese Department Head
the Agency of Mining resources development on November 26, 2015 at Bahr Dar , Ethiopia.
Questions and Comments of the Participants
of the Workshop
Prepared by Mohammedsaid Hagos Ermias Mulugeta the photographer of
the EEITI Communication officer and MOMPNG