The Jakarta-based Institute for Essential Services Reform (IESR) is using RWI support to implement a two-year project that promotes oil, gas and mining transparency in Southeast Asia and strengthens cooperation between civil society organizations working on these issues. IESR is organizing a regional conference for various stakeholders to identify governance and socio-economic challenges in the oil, gas and mining industries, after which participants will draft a framework for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) that establishes regional standards for industry processes. IESR is also launching an ASEAN Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) advocacy campaign by researching the impact of industry management practices on human rights, the environment and the socio-cultural and economic well-being of the region’s people. Following this, IESR is developing an ASEAN Revenue Watch Transparency Index and organizing a workshop to disseminate the research results. 

In 2010-2011 IESR organized a strategic planning workshop for the network of Southeast Asian civil society organizations involved in this project. Participants produced regional action plans and established a working group to implement the plans. Follow-up meetings tracked the working group’s progress and provided a platform for member organizations to communicate.

ASEAN is a geopolitical and economic organization of ten countries located in Southeast Asia that was formed in 1967 to accelerate economic growth, social progress and cultural development among its members. Although some ASEAN countries have individually taken measures to improve accountability and transparency in oil, gas and mining industry governance by joining the EITI, most have not and are consequently unable to transform their resource wealth into economic and social development.

IESR carries out advocacy and campaign work on energy, electricity and climate change issues. The organization provides up-to-date analysis on political, economic and social developments that take place in Indonesia and the Asia Pacific Region.