MULTI-STAKEHOLDER INITIATIVES: WHAT HAVE WE LEARNED?

The report assesses three multi-stakeholder initiatives (MSIs)—the APRM, OGP, and EITI—finding that while they provide platforms for transparency and civil society engagement, their ability to drive fundamental governance transformation is limited by varying levels of political will, uneven implementation, and challenges in measuring direct impact.

• The three MSIs differ significantly in their approach to compliance and sanctions. The EITI is the most rule-bound, suspending countries for missing reporting deadlines. The OGP uses a 'naming and shaming' approach, designating members as 'inactive' or driving them out. In contrast, the APRM lacks effective sanctions, with the report noting that it 'seldom follows through on its threats of sanctions in response to non-compliance.'
• Civil society participation varies across the initiatives. The OGP is described as having the strongest involvement, featuring a Steering Committee where civil society representatives co-chair alongside government representatives. The APRM is criticized for allowing governments to use civil society as 'window dressing' or for 'open washing,' particularly in restrictive regimes like Ethiopia.
• Implementation of the APRM has been weak, with National Programs of Action (NPoAs) often failing to align with national budgets or development plans. The report attributes this to a lack of political will and the loss of momentum following the departure of 'presidential champions' such as Nigeria's Obasanjo and South Africa's Mbeki.
• The OGP's impact is characterized as modest and incremental, acting more as a 'platform' or 'accelerant' for reform than a primary initiator. While it has led to access to information (ATI) reforms and technological innovations—such as Tanzania's 'Nifanyeje?' portal—the overall impact on governance remains ambiguous.
• The EITI has successfully improved the disclosure of extractive industry revenues and payments, but evidence of its impact on broader governance is limited. It is most effective in 'hybrid' countries, whereas its impact is lower in both highly democratic and highly autocratic states.
• The APRM has demonstrated some success in promoting specific governance reforms in certain countries. Examples include the establishment of a Ministry of Chieftaincy and Culture and a whistleblower act in Ghana, and the adoption of a Small and Medium Enterprise development policy in Rwanda in 2010.
• All three MSIs face the risk of 'open-washing,' where member states comply with reporting requirements on paper to gain prestige or aid without adhering to the spirit of the process or implementing substantive reforms.
• The EITI has evolved from a narrow set of rules on revenue collection into a broader international norm. The 2016 Standard expanded its scope to include beneficial ownership disclosure, contract transparency, and the integration of EITI into government systems.

APA

Turianskyi, Y., Corrigan, T., Chisiza, M., & Benkenstein, A. (2018). MULTI-STAKEHOLDER INITIATIVES: WHAT HAVE WE LEARNED? South African Institute of International Affairs. https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/2018-MSI-overview-literature-review.pdf

Chicago

Turianskyi, Yarik, Terence Corrigan, Matebe Chisiza, and Alex Benkenstein. MULTI-STAKEHOLDER INITIATIVES: WHAT HAVE WE LEARNED? South African Institute of International Affairs, 2018. https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/2018-MSI-overview-literature-review.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Turianskyi |first1=Yarik |last2=Corrigan |first2=Terence |last3=Chisiza |first3=Matebe |last4=Benkenstein |first4=Alex |title=MULTI-STAKEHOLDER INITIATIVES: WHAT HAVE WE LEARNED? |publisher=South African Institute of International Affairs |date=April 2018 |url=https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/2018-MSI-overview-literature-review.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{turianskyi2018multistakeholder, author = {Turianskyi, Yarik and Corrigan, Terence and Chisiza, Matebe and Benkenstein, Alex}, title = {{MULTI-STAKEHOLDER INITIATIVES: WHAT HAVE WE LEARNED?}}, institution = {South African Institute of International Affairs}, year = {2018}, month = apr, url = {https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/2018-MSI-overview-literature-review.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }