The Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) is a global coalition of governments, companies and civil society working together to improve openness and accountable management of revenues from natural resources.

The EITI came about in an environment of increasing pressure from civil society organisations in the late 1990s for transparency in the payments and revenues stemming from the extractive industry. In 2003, the 12 EITI Principles, focusing on the need for transparent management of natural resources, were created. Goals:

• Set a global standard for companies to publish what they pay and for governments to disclose what they receive.
• Strengthen governance in resource-rich companies by improving transparency and accountability in the extractive sector
• Level the playing field for companies.
• Ensure that civil society receives reliable information about the extractive industries sector.