PWYP Indonesia shared its experience regarding the application of social accountability to the extractive industries in the global social accountability forum (GPSA) in Washington DC, last May. On that occasion, PWYP Indonesia National Coordinator Maryati Abdullah recounted Indonesia’s experience, in particular, the role of civil society and policymakers in encouraging EITI and extractive industry governance reforms.

In addition, Maryati also highlighted the importance of the role of the community and regional stakeholders in monitoring the social accountability of revenue from natural resources to be transformed into social welfare. According to her, effective social accountability in the extractive sector requires people to have the information, understanding, and opportunities needed to be involved in every stage of the extractive industry chain.

Governments and companies need to provide data and opportunities so that the public can be involved. “PWYP Indonesia created a public surveillance platform called” Open Mining “, an application on mobile phones to access data and company performance in the extractive industry,” she said.

Other speakers present at the discussion session were Open Contracting Partnership Gavin Hayman, Professor from Pontifical University of Lima (PUPC) Ana Bonzena Sabagol, PWYP Mauritania Baaliou Coulibaly, Department of Interior, US Government Paul Mussenden, and Chevron Johanna NessethTutte.

The 2016 GPSA agenda is intended to bring together practitioners, CSOs, governments, accountability institutions, academics, the private sector, and donors to share their ideas and experiences in implementing social accountability. This forum is designed to be a space for a global network of partners to discuss current trends and challenges, and learn from one another.

Participants can also share experiences about impacts and reflect ways of driving the social accountability agenda. This year, the GPSA forum focuses on 1) Institutions that are inclusive, transparent, and accountable; 2) Collaboration of state and society in social accountability, 3) Learning from adaptive management.

“Social accountability is a bridge for society and the country. A relationship between the supply side of the government and the demand side of the community, and requires special attention to continue its function and strength, “said Professor John Gaventa (Institute for Development Studies, University of Sussex) at the GPSA Global Partners Forum 2016. There is an illustration of a bridge image that tries to summarize and capture the spirit of the entire discussion forum.