The Natural Resource Governance Institute (NRGI) helps people to realize the benefits of their countries’ endowments of oil, gas and minerals. They do this through technical advice, advocacy, applied research, policy analysis, and capacity development. NRGI work with innovative agents of change within government ministries, civil society, the media, legislatures, the private sector, and international institutions to promote accountable and effective governance in the extractive industries.

Building on experience and embracing change, the Natural Resource Governance Institute has embarked upon a bold and ambitious new strategy. In 2013, the Revenue Watch Institute and the Natural Resource Charter combined their expertise to form NRGI to better contribute to a major challenge of our time: improving the governance of natural resources to promote sustainable and inclusive development. Countries must improve accountability and the management of their oil, gas and mining resources in order for all people in a resource-rich country to benefit from the subsoil wealth. The goal is to help countries manage their natural resources for the public good by leveraging NRGI's expertise working with civil society, parliaments, governments, the private sector, media and other partners.

Rationale for NRGI’s organization and strategy

Improved governance throughout the natural resource value chain is essential for scores of resource-rich countries, which together are home to approximately one billion people living in poverty. Changing how countries harness their natural resource wealth is a daunting and worldwide challenge. For example, in sub-Saharan Africa, rents from natural resources dwarf development assistance by a factor of ten-to-one. This ratio will only grow larger as many new producers emerge on the continent, and also globally, following an era of hydrocarbon and mineral discovery. In most natural-resource-rich countries, these revenues have not broadly benefited people because of poor governance. NRGI's 2013 Resource Governance Index quantifies the stark “governance deficit” in the vast majority of resource-rich countries.

When revenues from extractives are used poorly - in cases of plunder, corruption, opacity, or mismanagement - they bring about socioeconomic decline, dire poverty, inequality, conflict, and environmental damage. But natural resources are not necessarily a curse. A number of emerging economies have shown the art of the possible; their reforms and progress are producing better accountability, stronger leadership, and more effective policymaking. The payoff is huge: when a country’s extractive resources are well managed and judiciously used, they generate prosperity for current and future generations. Evidence and experience tell us that however difficult, progress is attainable, even if it is not yet the norm for resource-rich countries. NRGI's organization aims to make a significant contribution to such progress.

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