Multi-stakeholder initiatives: what have we learned? An overview and literature review

This research paper evaluates three multi-stakeholder initiatives (MSIs)—the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM), the Open Government Partnership (OGP), and the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI)—comparing their mechanisms for monitoring, compliance, and impact on governance and transparency.

• The APRM, OGP, and EITI differ significantly in their approach to monitoring and non-compliance. The OGP uses an independent mechanism for National Action Plans (NAP) and downgrades members to 'inactive' status for non-compliance. The EITI uses the EITI Standard for disaggregated reporting and suspends members for missing deadlines. In contrast, the APRM rarely implements sanctions for non-compliance.
• The effectiveness of these MSIs is varied and difficult to quantify. The APRM is hindered by limited civil society involvement, weak peer pressure, and a lack of political will. The OGP has driven access to information (ATI) reforms, though the impact remains mixed. The EITI has improved the disclosure of payments and revenues in extractive industries and fostered policy debate, but there is little evidence it has positively impacted overall governance.
• While MSIs promote transparency and can open political space for civil society, they face implementation challenges. The OGP sees uneven implementation, including a failure by some countries to budget for NAPs. The EITI's plans are often overly technical and disconnected from national policies. Additionally, MSIs are susceptible to 'open-washing,' where member states comply formally on paper without adhering to the spirit of the initiative.

APA

South African Institute of International Affairs (2018). Multi-stakeholder initiatives: what have we learned? An overview and literature review. https://saiia.org.za/research/multi-stakeholder-initiatives-what-have-we-learned-an-overview-and-literature-review/

Chicago

South African Institute of International Affairs. Multi-stakeholder initiatives: what have we learned? An overview and literature review. 2018. https://saiia.org.za/research/multi-stakeholder-initiatives-what-have-we-learned-an-overview-and-literature-review/.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=South African Institute of International Affairs |title=Multi-stakeholder initiatives: what have we learned? An overview and literature review |date=8 April 2018 |url=https://saiia.org.za/research/multi-stakeholder-initiatives-what-have-we-learned-an-overview-and-literature-review/ |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{southafricaninstituteofinternationalaffairs2018multistakeholder, author = {{South African Institute of International Affairs}}, title = {{Multi-stakeholder initiatives: what have we learned? An overview and literature review}}, institution = {South African Institute of International Affairs}, year = {2018}, month = apr, url = {https://saiia.org.za/research/multi-stakeholder-initiatives-what-have-we-learned-an-overview-and-literature-review/}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }