The launch of the Extractives Baraza- an Advocacy Neutral Online Platform

The Extractives Baraza is an advocacy-neutral online platform that promotes knowledge, transparency and evidence-based stakeholder dialogue on the extractives sector in Kenya. EB is a rebranding of the Information Centre for Extractives sector (ICES). Its ultimate goal is to enhance citizen participation and engagement in the governance of Kenya's extractives sector.The platform is currently hosted at Strathmore University and is funded by the Department for International Development ("DFID") under its Kenya Extractives Program ("KEXPRO"). However, the platform acts independently of these partners, and aims to promote helpful dialogue and understanding by all those interested or affected by the extractive sector in Kenya. The Extractive Baraza builds on the original objective of the ICES by providing a revamped platform that enhances citizen participation and engagement in the governance of Kenya’s extractives sector

On 15th March 2017, EB was officially launched at Strathmore University. The launch brought together a wide range of stakeholders including government, investors, academia, civil society organizations, students etc. The launch of the EB was a revolutionary event which marked the unveiling of a new website and a range of products e.g. information products such as existing laws, contracts and agreements, tools, expert blogs, news section, jobs and opportunities corner, overview of the extractives sector etc. that can now be easily accessed globally, regionally and locally.

The EB lays out a structured approach for accessing information using three core concepts:

  • Inform: Citizens about developments and activities in Kenya’s extractives sector
  • Connect: Actors in the sector
  • Transform: The dialogue and perceptions around the extractives sector

The rebranding of the ICES platform to EB as well as the generation of new information products was informed by a needs assessment of Kenya’s Extractives Sector that was carried out by the Strathmore Extractives Industry Centre (SIEC). The research established,among others,that Kenya’s industry is opaque and mired in secrecy characterized by a significant gap between those who have financial and technical resources and those limited in financial and technical resources.

As part of the EB efforts in shaping discussions and transforming dialogue, a discussion session on “Access to Information: Breaking Barriers to Secrecy and Mistrust” was held during the launch. The session was facilitated by lead experts in the industry who shared insightful experiences and thoughts on how EB can innovatively break barriers to secrecy and mistrust through its information and knowledge products both at the national and county level. Importantly, EB was challenged to scale down national level discussions to counties so as to ensure that there is a reciprocal process of sharing and access to information.

To learn more about the Extractives Baraza and access its products, please visit the website and social media handles:

EB Website:

Facebook:Extractives Baraza

Twitter: @ExtraBaraza

Linkedin: Extractives Baraza

For inquiries kindly write to

Extractives Baraza

Strathmore University

Ole Sangale Road, Madaraka Estate

PO Box 59857 - 00200 City Square, Nairobi

Email:

Tel: 0703-034000, 0703-034200