The Executive Secretary of the Human Right Defenders Network Sierra Leone has attended a two-day familiarization retreat organized by The Sierra Leone Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative in Bo District, Southern Province.

The purpose of the retreat was to familiarize MSGs with the new validation model and templates, establish a dedicated SLEITI MSG sub-committee on validation and update progress made in addressing validation corrective action.

To better support relevant, sustainable and impactful EITI implementation, the EITI Board has introduced a new validation model.

The new approach maintains the rigor of the validation process while also accommodating the diverse challenges and priorities of implementing countries. It supports regular oversight of disclosure by multi-stakeholder groups.

The validation will assess the progress made by countries implementing the EITI 2019 standard.

The retreat seeks to engage stakeholders throughout the process and ensure that intended outcomes of EITI implementation are being met.

Alphonsus B,M Gbanie the Executive Secretary of Human Right Defenders Network Sierra Leone said the impact of the re-treat will strengthen HRDN-SL campaign initiatives in the promotion of the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights.

Present for the familiarization exercise were member of different Civil Society Organizations, ACEP, Government Representative-Minister of State Office Vice President and Chamber Representative.

The International Secretariat of the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative were the lead facilitators for the retreat.