This project develops a social accountability framework for the oil, gas and mining sector in the Asia Pacific Region and builds the capacity of civil society organizations (CSO) to advocate for it. Social accountability is an approach that relies on ordinary citizens and civil society to ensure that their governments are managing resources effectively and transparently.   

The project focuses on four countries in the Asia Pacific Region. Cambodia, Indonesia, the Philippines and Timor Leste are all emerging oil, gas and mining industry leaders in their region. However, these countries have not used resource revenues to invest significantly in economic and social development, in part due to poor governance practices and corruption.

With RWI support and direct assistance, the Affiliated Network for Social Accountability in East Asia and the Pacific (ANSA-EAP) is guiding twelve CSOs in these countries to develop a social accountability framework that enables them to participate in and improve the governance of these sectors. This work is taking place in four phases over two years.

1. 1. CSOs are gathering information on the existing accountability and transparency environment within the oil, gas and mining sectors in their countries. Through this work the CSOs are improving their social research and governance analysis skills.



2. 2. ANSA-EAP and RWI are convening workshops with the CSOs and other stakeholders to help them convert their research into social accountability tools and implementation strategies.  



3. 3. The CSOs are piloting the social accountability tools and implementation strategies in their respective countries. In order to facilitate this field work, RWI and ANSA-EAP are training CSOs on field research methodology and providing continuing mentoring. 



4. 4. After testing these social accountability tools, CSOs present their lessons learned in a regional forum which will invite government officials, company representatives and members of the international community.
    

The Affiliated Network for Social Accountability-East Asia and the Pacific (ANSA-EAP) at the Ateneo School of Government in the Philippines is a regional network that promotes the practice of social accountability by providing a platform for the exchange of information and experience. ANSA-EAP offers capacity building opportunities and technical assistance to citizen groups and governments.