Consultant/Researcher: Supporting EITI Actors to Diagnose Extractive Sector Corruption Risks

Mar 7, 2020 | Natural Resource Governance Institute
View Original

The Natural Resource Governance Institute (NRGI) is a not-for-profit group that promotes transparency and good governance in the oil, gas and mining sector. NRGI seeks a researcher knowledgeable in corruption risks in the extractive industries who can support one of our anti-corruption projects to be implemented during April 2020 – June 2021.

The extractive industries exhibit chronic challenges with corruption. The project aims at developing a diagnostic framework that multi-stakeholder groups (MSGs) in Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI)  implementing countries, as well as other actors, can use to:

  • conduct evidence-based assessments of corruption risks;
  • convene multi-stakeholder forums about corruption risks and explore actions to address them; and,
  • prioritize which corruption challenges are most suitable for their EITI process to address.

In this first stage, NRGI will also work with one EITI implementing country to pilot the approach, and apply the lessons learned to the diagnostic framework and its wider application. 

Scope of Work

To support this project, we seek to hire a short-term, junior to mid-level researcher to help us develop this diagnostic framework whose structure should likely consist of a set of questions and guidance for how to answer those questions, including what data can be employed, and how to interpret the findings. The framework will cover (a) the whole decision chain of extractives as per the terrain contained in the EITI Standard including licensing, SOEs, commodity trading, revenue collection, etc., plus any necessary additions, like sub-contracting; (b) the relevant legal framework; and, (c) an assessment of wider contextual factors such as geopolitical and political dynamics, risks of state capture, quality of checks and balances including civic space, scale and structure of the sector, and stage of sector’s development.

The researcher’s work will include:

  • Undertake a thorough literature review to inform the development of the diagnostic framework
  • Conduct interviews with experts or country stakeholders
  • Support consultations organized by NRGI (with possible participation in these consultations)
  • Contribute to the writing of the diagnostic framework and the accompanying guidance
  • Contribute to the revision of the framework to incorporate the lessons learnt from the pilot

Qualifications

Required:

•    Experience with extractive industries governance issues

•    Some experience with corruption assessments and anti-corruption responses more generally

•    Excellent and proven research and writing skills

Preferred:

•    Familiarity with multi-stakeholder initiatives like EITI

Availability

Our top preference is for the researcher to start at the beginning of April 2020 and remain available until mid-2021. The most intensive period of work will be April-October 2020 when the researcher should be available to work more than 50% of a full-time position. The work would then continue at a lower level during the rest of the lifetime of the project. We will consider candidates who are only available through late 2020.

We estimate the total assignment may require more than 100 days of work.

To apply

Please send a cover letter and CV as soon as possible, and before the deadline of 15 March, 2020.

Location

NRGI can be flexible in relation to where the successful candidate is based.