Sentul, Bogor – The Publish What You Pay (PWYP) Indonesia coalition held its 2025 National Working Meeting (Rakernas) on May 6–7, 2025, in Sentul, Bogor. Attended by coalition members from various islands across Indonesia, the Rakernas was a follow-up to the mandate from the 2024 General Assembly and aimed to strengthen the direction of the coalition’s collective movement. Key items on the agenda included a deep dive into PWYP Indonesia 2024–2028 Strategic Plan, formulating a joint work plan for 2025–2026 based on input from each working group, discussing institutional sustainability strategies, and designing a more effective, democratic, and inclusive organizational structure and network governance model.
Integrating Local Issues into National Policy
Participants discussed priority issues such as governance in the oil and gas sector, mineral and coal mining, just energy transition, and the empowerment of local communities. The discussions underscored the importance of aligning PWYP Indonesia’s priorities with national policies such as the National Long-Term Development Plan (RPJPN), the National Medium-Term Development Plan (RPJMN), and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). To achieve this, PWYP Indonesia is committed to facilitating knowledge-sharing and innovation from the grassroots to enrich national policy-making. “Local issues must form the backbone of national advocacy. Data and experiences from the regions are our strength in shaping more inclusive policies,” said one participant, reflecting the spirit of cross-regional collaboration.
Just Energy Transition as a Core Focus
PWYP Indonesia advocates for an energy transition that not only cuts carbon emissions but also prioritizes social justice for affected communities, including coal sector workers and communities in mining areas. Participants also called for a more transparent and needs-based allocation of revenue-sharing funds (DBH), in line with sustainable development principles. “An energy transition must ensure that no one is left behind, especially local communities who have long relied on the extractive sector,” emphasized a regional representative.
Institutional Capacity Building and Self-Reliance
The National Working Meeting reached a consensus on strengthening structured collaborative work, with a focus on enhancing organizational governance, knowledge management, publishing coalition research, and developing a monitoring and evaluation (M&E) framework. The coalition also committed to institutional independence through diversified funding sources and internal capacity development, reducing dependency on external donors.
“Self-reliance is key to keeping our movement independent and relevant,” said one participant.
Inclusion and Local Community Empowerment
The Rakernas reaffirmed the importance of inclusion in advocacy, including increasing the representation of women and marginalized groups in natural resource policy-making. The coalition encourages the involvement of women in strategic roles, such as in the National Energy Council (DEN), to ensure that energy policies reflect gender justice perspectives.
Additionally, empowering local communities remains a priority through civil society capacity-building programs at the regional level, including advocacy training and multi-stakeholder engagement with academics and journalists. This approach aims to ensure that natural resource governance is not solely top-down but also responsive to community needs.
The 2025 Rakernas is expected to produce a more coordinated advocacy roadmap, reinforcing PWYP Indonesia’s role as a facilitator of civil society movements advocating for transparent and just natural resource governance. By integrating local issues into national policy, the coalition strives to create tangible impacts for communities, particularly those reliant on natural resources.