Event Summary
For several years, different civil society organizations advocated for Chile’s accession to the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI). However, it was not until late 2023 that the Chilean Copper Commission (Cochilco) was formally designated by the Government as the Technical Secretariat responsible for coordinating the application process. Following this step and the Government’s commitment to join the initiative, around 30 civil society organizations self-organized into a working group to align objectives and coordinate their participation.
On 16 December 2024, under Cochilco’s leadership, the Multi-Stakeholder Group (MSG) was officially established, bringing together representatives from government, civil society, and the mining industry. Its mandate included drafting operating bylaws and developing the Work Plan required for Chile’s EITI application. As a result, on 19 August 2025, the Government of Chile formally submitted its candidacy to the EITI.
As a result, on 19 August 2025, the Government of Chile formally submitted its candidacy to the EITI. This milestone represents a significant step toward transparency and accountability in strategic sectors such as copper and lithium, through a tripartite dialogue mechanism. Approval of the application is expected to consolidate this multi-stakeholder process and strengthen governance in the extractive industries.
This event is part of a broader pattern in which Chilean civil society has consistently sought to influence both legal frameworks and public policies related to transparency and participation. A recent example was the passage of the new adoption law, where civil society advocacy was decisive in advancing a process that had been stalled for more than 12 years. These precedents reflect how Chilean civil society has consolidated itself as an actor with the capacity to influence legal and political processes, using national institutional mechanisms to open spaces for participation.
In this context, Chile’s application to the EITI in August 2025 should not be seen as an isolated event but rather as the continuation of this trajectory of advocacy. Furthermore, the creation of a self-organized civil society working table, prior to the institutionalization of the Multi-Stakeholder Group as required by the EITI, demonstrates the ability of civil society organizations to articulate collectively and establishes a precedent. Building on prior patterns of civic action, it shows how civil society has succeeded in opening and sustaining spaces for participation in strategic sectors.