PNG Resource Governance Coalition EITI NARRATIVE A report for the EITI National Secretariat CONTENTS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 3 SETUP OF PNGRGC 5 ADVOCACY PROGRAM 7 MADANG – MOMASE REGIONAL ROADSHOW 7 KOKOPO – NEW GUINEA ISLANDS REGIONAL ROADSHOW 9 MENDI – HIGHLANDS REGIONAL ROADSHOW 11 KEREMA – SOUTHERN REGIONAL ROADSHOW 12 MEDIA ENGAGEMENTS 13 PUBLIC ENGAGEMENTS 14 PUBLISH WHAT YOU PAY CAPACITY BUILDING 15 WAY FORWARD 16 Page | 2 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The national government has supported efforts to improve transparency and good governance in Papua New Guinea through the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI). Treasury allocated funds to assist civil society disseminate information on the EITI through the EITI National Secretariat. The work of civil society in 2015 and 2016 was aimed at adding value to the National EITI Secretariat’s work plan and ensuring that PNG meets its EITI requirements. Delivering under Budget In 2015, Civil Society requested a total of K 770, 700.00 from the Treasury Department’s civil society component of EITI funding. OBJECTIVE INITIAL OUTCOMES FUNDING REQUESTED Establishment of K105, 200.00 PNGRGC is a functional office that has delivered on all outcomes the PNGRGC & Capacity Support Increase civil K 395, 000.00 EITI posters, university seminars, Facebook Page, TV appearances, radio broadcasts. society/citizens active interests & Recognition by Divine Word University, the Pacific engagement on the Community Geoscience Department , Pacific Network on Globalization and Queensland introduction, promotion University as PNG’s civil society voice on Natural and implementation of Resource Governance EITI in PNG Page | 3 Initiate programs K 170, 00.00 4 regional roadshows in Madang (MOMASE), Kokopo(NGI), Mendi (HIGHLANDS), Kerema & activities on EITI both (SOUTHERN REGION), at the national & sub- Divine Word University Open Day, national levels in order to strengthen civic engagement and ownership of issues in the resource sector, in particular EITI. Above budget in money terms refers to how much was initially requested. Papua New Guinea Resource Governance Coalition did not receive the amounts as requested. As such civil society took a pragmatic approach to delivering on the outcomes. Civil Society delivered 4 REGIONAL ROADSHOWS: MOMASE REGIONAL EITI ROAD SHOW - IN MADANG NEW GUINEA EITI REGIONAL ROADSHOW- IN KOKOPO HIGHLANDS REGIONAL ROADSHOW - IN MENDI SOUTHERN REGIONAL ROADSHOW – KEREMA From the CSO perspective, the overall cumulative effect of government, civil society and industry cooperation has been the improvement of dialogue amongst all stakeholders. Page | 4 SETUP OF PNGRGC PNGRGC is a newly created national organization or movement that is broadly responsible for coordinating the Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) efforts in promoting and advocating the principles of EITI in PNG. PNGRGC is currently housed under CIMC. Objectives The objectives of the Coalition are to: • be used as an umbrella organization to encompass all CSOs including community based, faith based, legal, environmental, transparency and anti- corruption and other non-governmental organizations that have an interest and work in or related to the Extractive Sector; accountability and the governance of the sector and the proceeds from the management and utilization of the resources; • contribute constructively to civil society’s participation in the introduction, promotion, awareness and implementation of the EITI in PNG; including to hold industry and government accountable and support and guide CSO members of the EITI Multi-Stakeholder Group. • introduce, promote and maintain programs and initiatives that are community focused in order to strengthen civil society engagement and ownership of issues in the resource sector; • develop understanding and partnerships with other likeminded resource governance organizations locally and internationally; • maintain high standards of good governance for the Coalition and its members; • establish and maintain a register of membership, as the basis for programs and outreach activities; and • do all such things as are incidental or conducive to the attainment of the objectives or any of them. Page | 5 PNGRGC’s strategic partners have been Publish What You Pay (UK), CIMC, Institute of National Affairs (INA), Transparency International PNG (TIPNG), Business Against Corruption Alliance (BACA), and Center for Environmental Law and Community Rights (CELCOR), Eco Forestry Forum (EFF), and various other community based organizations and institutions. Publish What You Pay, CIMC and INA and provided administrative and technical support to PNGRGC. Business Against Corruption Alliance has provided funding assistance for radio broadcast and roadshows. TIPNG recently funded a workshop conducted by PNGRGC in Kavieng. CELCOR, EFF and others have provided technical assistance during regional roadshows. PNGRGC has a well-equipped and functioning office that is currently located at Level 2 IPA Building and is managed by the Consultative Implementation and Monitoring Committee. Funds have been used for the purchase of office equipment and its daily running as per the funding proposal. Page | 6 ADVOCACY PROGRAM These milestone activities encapsulate various specific targets expressed in the proposal to the EITI National Secretariat. This includes media coverage, stakeholder engagement, capacity building of journalists and civil society activities. MADANG – MOMASE REGIONAL ROADSHOW PNGRGC Hosted the Momase EITI regional roadshow in Madang from the 10th -12th of November 2015. Participants from across the region were brought to Madang to attend a one day EITI awareness workshop that was also attended by over 300 local people. Visits to Academic Institutions involved TUSBAB Secondary School and Madang Maritime College Business Breakfast with Madang Chamber of Commerce, and training for Madang based Journalists. A public forum was then held at Jomba Catholic Hall. Page | 7 The General Outcomes of the roadshow included; - Formation of Momase Regional EITI Coalition - Coverage of extractive sector issues by Madang based journalists - Invite from Divine Word University to discuss EITI with staff and students - Generation of public interest from across the Momase region including the special request for EITI training from East Sepik Page | 8 KOKOPO – NEW GUINEA ISLANDS REGIONAL ROADSHOW PNGRGC hosted the New Guinea Islands EITI regional roadshow in Kokopo from the 25th – 27th of November. Participants from across the region were brought to Kokopo to attend a one day EITI awareness workshop that was also attended by over 100 local people. Other Activities included: • Visits to Academic Institutions – Malabunga Technical Secondary School and Kokopo Secondary School • Business Breakfast with local leaders from East New Britain • Training for Kokopo Based Journalists • Public Forum at Vunapope Catholic Hall General outcomes of the roadshow included; Page | 9 - Formation of a New Guinea Islands Regional EITI Coalition headed by Mrs. Rosemary Sovek - Coverage of extractive sector issues by Kokopo based journalists - Further invite from Transparency International PNG to participate in its anti- corruption open day in Kokopo - Increased interest from the region leading to a further EITI workshop held in Kavieng in 2016 and sponsored by TIPNG Page | 10 MENDI – HIGHLANDS REGIONAL ROADSHOW PNGRGC Hosted the Highlands EITI regional roadshow in Mendi from the 9th to 11th of March 2016 Participants from all across the highlands region attended the EITI workshop including representatives from Exxon Mobil. Local academic institutions such as Mendi Secondary School and Mendi School of Nursing were visited. The team also conducted a 1 hour EITI awareness broadcast on radio Southern Highlands. The team also visited the local market and conducted EITI awareness General outcomes of the roadshow included; - Interest from Southern Highlands Provincial Government in sharing EITI Messages on their website. EITI material provided. - Formation of highlands regional EITI Cluster group - Further participation by Radio Southern Highlands manager in subsequent EITI Civil Society workshop due to his continued interest Page | 11 KEREMA – SOUTHERN REGIONAL ROADSHOW PNGRGC Hosted the Southern EITI regional roadshow in Kerema from the 1th to 13th of May 2016. The team visited Kerema Secondary School on the first day. The next two days comprised of workshop presentations. Due to the logistical and communications challenges in the region, regional participants felt that provincial EITI contact points were more viable than a regional coalition General outcomes of the roadshow included; • Continued engagement with the Gulf Provincial Administration through Deputy Administrator Mr. Ahovo Laepa. • Formation of a Gulf EITI Pressure Group and continued feedback with PNGRGC on development of constitution of group. IPA registration is currently pending. • Continued communications with Star Mountains (Ok Tedi) local representative. Page | 12 MEDIA ENGAGEMENTS PNGRGC recognizes the media as an important enabler of information dissemination to the masses. However communication information about the EITI can be too technical and difficult if journalists are not equipped with the knowledge about PNG’s resource sector. PNGRGC conducted trainings for Journalists based in Madang and Kokopo and will continue to do so in the years to come. PNGRGC also recognizes that the PNG Chamber of Mines and Petroleum provides similar training for Port Moresby based journalists. PNGRGC is therefore more focused on sub national engagement with journalists. However during the Southern regional roadshow held in Kerema, PNGRGC facilitated the attendance of Port Moresby based journalists from the Post Courier and EMTV. Page | 13 PUBLIC ENGAGEMENTS PNGRGC had display booths in Kokopo and Madang in 2016. In Kokopo, PNGRGC had sponsored a booth during Transparency International’s regional open day In Madang, PNGRGC had a display booth at during the Divine Word University Open Day. Engagements with broader civil society are key not just in terms of spreading the message about the EITI but also in terms of engaging the academia in shaping the implementation of the EITI. PNGRGC is also PNG’s sole civil society representative on at the newly formed Pacific Center for Social Responsibility and Natural Resources. Page | 14 PUBLISH WHAT YOU PAY CAPACITY BUILDING Publish What You Pay UK has been PNGRGC‘s key strategy partner, providing capacity building support for civil society. PNGRGC and its coalition partners’ links with PYWP ensures that PNG’s CSOs are part of a global network of civil society organizations involved in the EITI process. In late 2015, the Philippines EITI Coalition hosted PNGRGC Coalition members. PNGRGC Coalition members also attended the 2016 EITI Conference in Lima, Peru. The Philippines study tour has enabled PNGRGC to improve its capacity to build a coalitions at the sub-national level. Participation of CSO coalition members at the EITI Global conference in Lima provided insights into international best practices as well as an opportunity for CSO coalition members to participate during panel discussions. Publish What You Pay also assisted PNGRGC in defining PNG’s civil society goals in EITI implementation during a workshop hosted at Lamana in May 2016. Page | 15 WAY FORWARD PNG Resource Governance Coalition is the umbrella civil society organization see the following areas as key to achieving CSO aspirations in EITI implementation. These are its two main areas with the following overall objectives: I. Enhancing transparency and accountability in the EI in PNG a. Supporting the implementation of the EITI in PNG b. Going beyond the EITI requirements c. Supporting CS role in the implementation of other transparency initiatives: the OGP II. Strengthening of the Coalition a. Building the capacity of the coalition members b. Enhancing the governance structure of the coalition c. Establishing a communication strategy d. Diversifying sources of funding for the coalition GOAL: Enhancing transparency and accountability in the EI in PNG OBJECTIVE Activities Expected outcomes Supporting the -Setting up a communication plan PNG EITI National Secretariat implementation between civil society reps on the MSG plan endorsed by PNGRGC of the EITI in and the wider CS Coalition Partners PNG -Regular discussion of MSG agenda CSO MSG Members fully briefed and with agreement on CS stance on on CSO stance by coalition issues prior to MSG meetings partners -Increasing regional CS representation on the MSG At least one regional -Dissemination of information from the representative on MSG by 2018 EITI report: (Infographics, photobooks Communications material from extractive areas related to points published and disseminated addressed in the recommendations, eg: environmental damage photos,..) -3 radio shows engagements Production of EITI Advert for Radio Page | 16 Going beyond -Produce recommendations for the the EITI next EITI 2015 report that demand the 2015 report to include requirements inclusion of environmental information, environmental data and and contract disclosure. contract information Supporting CS -Give input on the National action role in the Plan of the OGP through the CS group Implementation of OGP implementation (Wallis, Paul, Martyn, Emily, Eco National Action Plan of other forestry) including EITI Cluster Group transparency -Monitor the implementation of the plan initiatives: the NAP and present recommendations OGP to the annual IRM (evaluation report for the OGP produced annually by PNG). Enhance -Write a communication plan for CS communication reps on the MSG and the wider CS. Communications Plan approved amongst civil (regular updates, meetings, creation and implemented society of email list...etc) representatives and the wider civil society Website and Mailing List Raising -Engage the academia and youth awareness through targeted seminars at the Form EITI focal points (nodes) at around the EITI universities to explain about the EITI, Universities contract disclosure, revenue management, sharing. Support -Perform a mapping of allies and contract advocacy plan. Disclosure of contracts by disclosure in -Meet with primary targets government and companies PNG Meeting held between PNGEITI -Set up joint meetings with National National Secretariat/ Chamber EITI secretariat and Chamber of Mines. of Mines and Petroleum and Civil Society -Lobby with some MPs to set up an Meeting with Minister Hon Ben energy committee. Micah, Minister for Petroleum and Energy Publication of Investigative -Commission an investigative piece Piece about agreements that are already accessible to the public, while pointing out why it is beneficial to the government and companies to publish these agreements. Page | 17 OBJECTIVE ACTIVITIES Expected outcomes Building the -Participating in the NRGI Hub in 2 PNGRGC Coalition members capacity of the Indonesia attend coalition members -Produce a position paper on revenue Position paper published sharing at the subnational level -Invite experts from PNG (become 2 Seminars held friends of the coalition) to hold subject specific seminars (2 seminars). Enhancing the -Draft a code of conduct for CS Code of Conduct Approved by governance representation on the MSG coalition structure of the -Run council elections and select the coalition executive board members as per the Board elected coalition charter Processes mapped -Do a connections mapping exercise for the coalition members Subnational Conduct Capacity Building workshops CSO Leaders empowered Capacity in Kerema, Mendi, Kokopo and with Building Madang -Basic information on PNG’s Workshops for mineral and hydrocarbon CSO Leaders legal and regulatory framework with special focus on seabed mining - information on Land law and landowners rights in the resource sector in relation their benefits - tools on constructive engagement with the government regulators and resource companies - capacity to use of mainstream and social media tools for advocacy - capacity to Network and build coalitions Page | 18 Conclusion Civil society has delivered on its proposed activity plan to the EITI National Secretariat. Due to the fact that the amount provided to civil society was less than what had been requested, adjustments had to be made to accommodate the deficit. Adjustments had to be made in terms of recruitment of communications staff and the purchase of a vehicle as well as the setting up of the website. Nevertheless, PNGRGC has been able to overcome its logistical and communications challenges by leveraging partners in civil society and the media. PNGRGC continues to advocate for greater transparency in the resource sector. PNG’s civil society have identified Contract Transparency as an important first step in ensuring a more open and transparent management of natural resource wealth. Fiscal and land access contracts define the benefits from resource extraction. One cannot talk about natural resource revenue transparency without understanding the agreements the dictate benefit streams. PNGRGC also recognizes that natural resources wealth can be translated into sustainable human development through the promotion and implementation of the government’s National Strategy for Sustainable Development. PNG’s civil society organization have made an enormous contribution towards EITI implementation. Continued support from the national government through its state- CSO partnership initiative is essential for continued success of EITI implementation in PNG. Page | 19