The Regional Meeting of Social Organizations: Expanding the transparency agenda in the extractive sector in Latin America was held over three days. The meeting addressed topics such as natural resource governance in Latin America, international innovations and the importance of the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) for Colombia. In addition, the Latin American Network on Extractive Industries (RLIE) took stock of transparency and access to information on extractive industries in the region.

The meeting was able to identify the current situation of natural resource governance in Latin America; make visible the participation of the private sector, civil society and the Colombian government in the EITI process; learn about innovations in the EITI process in different countries; evaluate the state of transparency and access to information in the oil and mining sector in the region; learn about the participation of civil society in the EITI process; and learn about the Latin American experience on the inclusion of environmental issues in the EITI.

The regional meeting brought together national and international experts from Mexico, Guatemala, Peru, Bolivia, Chile, Indonesia, the Philippines, the United States, Nigeria, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Azerbaijan, the United Kingdom, Brazil, Ecuador and Colombia.

Finally, the regional meeting of social organizations generated a space for the exchange of experiences that will make the extractive sector in Colombia more transparent. In addition, progress and lessons learned in Colombia and other countries on the EITI process were shared.

The meeting was led by the Civil Society Roundtable for Extractive Industries Transparency, the Latin American Network on Extractive Industries (RLIE), the global coalition Publish What You Pay (PWYP) and the Natural Resource Governance Institute (NRGI).

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