How are technological trends making extractives governance simpler, more inclusive, and more effective? Few sectors have the transformative potential of extractives, particularly in emerging economies Wellmanaged natural resources can catapult a country’s growth, infrastructure and development to the next level Mismanaged, however, they can erode institutions, benefit only a few privileged, and even fuel conflict The better the governance of the extractives sector, the better the chance that citizens, companies and governments can all work in concert to realise the shared vision of a better world, as mapped out by the Sustainable Development Goals The extractives sector has had its fair share of reputational difficulties in modern history Opaque ownership arrangements, a lack of transparency around revenue and payments, the under-representation of communities impacted by extractive activities, and unsafe or exploitative practices have all negatively impacted perceptions of the sector They have also hampered its contribution to growth and development, particularly in emerging economies The good news is that the pace of positive change around some of these challenges is accelerating Technology is playing a critical role in this, and we are all witness to the ingenuity of the digital revolution The internet and digital tools are changing the world – including the extractives industry In order to harness technology’s potential successfully and translate it into enabling policy and sound laws, we first need to understand the current landscape We need to understand how digital tools can contribute to a more just and equitable extractives sector, for everybody We need to test if and how technological trends are making extractives governance simpler, more inclusive, and more effective We need a frank assessment of the limitations of these tools And we should identify practical ways to support further positive change I would like to invite you, the reader, to read and enjoy this report, ‘Data, Drones and Digital Storytelling’, which we believe goes some way in exploring these themes The report seeks to address three questions in particular: - Which digital tools are making an impact on extractive governance? - How are they making an impact? - What opportunities and challenges exist for further exploration? Like any revolution, it is not possible to predict the consequences of the developments currently taking place It will take time and experience to grasp the long-term impact and implications of these technologies There is, nevertheless, an urgent need to begin crafting enabling policy around digital tools and their role in strengthening governance for the extractives industry This is a call to action we hope leaders across the extractives sector will answer, and we hope that this report can support them on that journey Mr Andreas Proksch