The Implementation of Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative in the Republic of Kazakhstan

Abstract

A primary purpose of this thesis is to provide a better understanding of the implementation of EITI standards in Kazakhstan’s extractive industries. Furthermore, this study has conducted interviews by means of open-ended questions with EITI stakeholders in Kazakhstan in order to shed light on the challenges that these stakeholders face during the implementation of EITI in a local context. The paper aims to investigate how the EITI has been implemented in Kazakhstan by using the definition of EITI standards, articles about EITI implementation and analysis of national reports and interview data. This paper has three objectives. The first objective is to study theoretical and methodological aspects of EITI implementation. The second objective is to analyze the experience of EITI implementation in Kazakhstan. The third objective is to analyze how the relevant stakeholders evaluate the current status, benefits and future challenges of EITI implementation in Kazakhstan. These objectives are set by the author in order to be able to conclude with relevant recommendations and narrow the gap in the literature available on EITI implementation in Kazakhstan. The main conclusion to be drawn from this study is that Kazakhstan has the great success in EITI implementation which plays a vital role in influencing positively on natural resources governance. However, at the present stage, there is a lack of suitable framework for disseminating relevant information on purposes of this initiative to citizens of Kazakhstan.