Country Commitments
In a relatively short period of time, Indonesia has sailed through waves of changes that had taken the country to its current state of a confident middle-income and democratic state a member of the G-20 economies. The 1998 wave of change brought freedom for political participation, and was immediately followed by wave of devolution of power through decentralization in 2004. Today, the momentum has come for Indonesia to ride another wave of change, which should further empower the citizens to actively engaged in public affairs through open government.
Open government is critical for Indonesia to complete its democratization process and to set a solid foundation towards a new strong economy characterized by a mature and open society. In addition, as the current chair and the biggest economy of ASEAN countries, Indonesia holds the moral responsibility to be the role model for the region in the area of good governance and accountability. To achieve this, there are grand challenges of which Indonesia’s open government initiative is aiming to address:
- Improving Public Services
Poor public service delivery has been one of the biggest issues standing between Government and the Indonesian citizen. People have expressed their frustrations and are very skeptical with any improvement effort. - Increasing Public Integrity
With corruption that is still rampant, inefficiencies, and low performance both in central and local level, the Government is struggling hard to restore faith from the public. Indonesia aims to improve it’s Corruption Perception Index (CPI) from 2.8 in 2010 to 5.0 in 2014. - More Effectively Managing Public Resources
For too long the public has been kept in the dark when it comes to public resources, especially revenues and outlays. The half-hearted transparency or public participation programs in this area have led to many distrusts and allegations which ultimately hamper economic development.
To create an action plan that is not only effective in addressing the above challenges but also representing the aspirations of different stakeholders, Indonesia is undertaking a robust and rigorous public consultation activities, which include:
- Teaming Up With CSOs (Stakeholders Management Group)
A core team consisted of five government institutions and five CSOs to formulate Indonesia’s action plan towards open government was formed. This core team has been working intensively and producing several documents including the Indonesia’s commitment (action plan) presented in OGP. - Focused Group Discussions (FGDs)
The government in collaboration with members of academia has been conducting focused group discussions with the general population to gain aspirations specifically on open government. By September 2011, 31 FGDs will be accomplished throughout the country. - Workshops with CSOs, Private Sector, Government Institutions
A series of workshops exposing the draft action plan towards open government to different stakeholders were conducted in July and August resulting many productive feedbacks and fresh aspirations which further improve the action plan and increase stakeholders ownerships to the overall open government initiative. - National Workshop
A national workshop on openness was conducted in July attended by information officers from central and local governments. - Internet-based Communication
Indonesia’s open government initiative has established a website and active facebook and twitter accounts in the effort to extend communication channel for interaction with the public.
Indonesia’s next journey towards open government and as a member of Open Government Partnership is a continuation of past and on-going initiatives in the area of transparency, accountability, and bureaucracy reform. Indonesia, therefore, recognizes and will depart from existing initiatives described in the below section.
Improving Public Services
Education fund transparency.
Students and parents have long been left in the dark when it comes to whether their school receives government funds and whether they have to pay for tuition and all the costs incurred during academic year. This initiative is aiming to bring sunlight to the whole process such that it is clear and easy for students, parents, school teachers, and the public in general.
Students and parents have long been left in the dark when it comes to whether their school receives government funds and whether they have to pay for tuition and all the costs incurred during academic year. This initiative is aiming to bring sunlight to the whole process such that it is clear and easy for students, parents, school teachers, and the public in general.
Health fund & insurance transparency.
Health issue has not only been one of the most basic concerns of the public but it is also responsible for a significant portion of government budget. The government has introduced and initiative towards openness in this area followed by eased and improved public access to fundamental health & insurance information.
Health issue has not only been one of the most basic concerns of the public but it is also responsible for a significant portion of government budget. The government has introduced and initiative towards openness in this area followed by eased and improved public access to fundamental health & insurance information.
Transparency and accountability in poverty reduction interventions.
The efforts towards poverty reduction have been constantly receiving allegations for mis-targetting and data rigging. A President's instruction in 2011 on bringing more transparency and accountability to this area was aimed to ensure that beneficiaries receive what they are entitled to by involving public participation in the process.
The efforts towards poverty reduction have been constantly receiving allegations for mis-targetting and data rigging. A President's instruction in 2011 on bringing more transparency and accountability to this area was aimed to ensure that beneficiaries receive what they are entitled to by involving public participation in the process.
Increasing Public Integrity
Strengthening Ministries’ Information Units.
To better serve the public with regards to information inquiries, the law on public information disclosure gives a mandate for public institutions to establish an information unit. A President’s instruction was issued to strengthen the mandate leading to establishment of the unit in several institutions. A national workshop involving public institutions was held to endorse and share best practices.
To better serve the public with regards to information inquiries, the law on public information disclosure gives a mandate for public institutions to establish an information unit. A President’s instruction was issued to strengthen the mandate leading to establishment of the unit in several institutions. A national workshop involving public institutions was held to endorse and share best practices.
Transparency and accountability in the Police Department.
Police Department has received President’s instruction in 2011 to improved public information access protocol including providing robust information online, to engaged periodic engagement with CSOs, and to improve the capacity of Police Information Units across the country.
Police Department has received President’s instruction in 2011 to improved public information access protocol including providing robust information online, to engaged periodic engagement with CSOs, and to improve the capacity of Police Information Units across the country.
Transparency in Attorney General Office.
As one of the key institutions in the law and justice system, Attorney General Office has been receiving a lot of attentions and demands for transparency. An initiative to induce openness through bureaucracy reform has been in progress – targeting specifically to increase public faith in the institution.
As one of the key institutions in the law and justice system, Attorney General Office has been receiving a lot of attentions and demands for transparency. An initiative to induce openness through bureaucracy reform has been in progress – targeting specifically to increase public faith in the institution.
Transparency in prison system.
An initiative has been launched to make information widely available to public with regards to people currently held in the prisons. The public is now provided access to the names of detainees, charges, release dates, and the like. Such information will help the public to scrutinize prison system’s conducts by comparing data provided by other institutions such as the Attorney General Office.
An initiative has been launched to make information widely available to public with regards to people currently held in the prisons. The public is now provided access to the names of detainees, charges, release dates, and the like. Such information will help the public to scrutinize prison system’s conducts by comparing data provided by other institutions such as the Attorney General Office.
Transparency in Tax and Tax Court.
Stigmatized as a ‘black box’, the Tax Department is pressed to induce transparency with regards to information surrounding the court on tax disputes. With the new transparency program in the bureaucracy reform initiative, public can now easily access information related to public services mechanism on tax issues, tax dispute statuses, and verdicts.
Stigmatized as a ‘black box’, the Tax Department is pressed to induce transparency with regards to information surrounding the court on tax disputes. With the new transparency program in the bureaucracy reform initiative, public can now easily access information related to public services mechanism on tax issues, tax dispute statuses, and verdicts.
Transparency and accountability in Customs Office.
Aimed to improve the management of government revenue through customs and to increase services to the public, an initiative under President’s instruction was launched. The public will be further involved in reporting cases of mis-conduct and is now provided easy access to a wider range of information regarding Customs Office’s activities.
Aimed to improve the management of government revenue through customs and to increase services to the public, an initiative under President’s instruction was launched. The public will be further involved in reporting cases of mis-conduct and is now provided easy access to a wider range of information regarding Customs Office’s activities.
Immigration Office transparency and accountability.
For too long the public has put immigration services under the spotlight due to practices involving briberies and special privileges. In 2011, President has instructed to force transparency and accountability to the Office in the effort to improve immigration service to the public.
For too long the public has put immigration services under the spotlight due to practices involving briberies and special privileges. In 2011, President has instructed to force transparency and accountability to the Office in the effort to improve immigration service to the public.
More effectively managing public resources
Transparency in National Budget.
The ever growing public scrutiny over central and local government budget can only be answered by openness. Realizing the importance of transparency in this area, the Government is committed to improve its standing in the Open Budget Index (OBI) through a multitude of efforts. These efforts in promoting budget transparency have been able to increase Indonesia’s score from 41 in 2006 to 51 in 2010. More efforts are necessary to improve the score further such as establishing ‘citizen budget’.
The ever growing public scrutiny over central and local government budget can only be answered by openness. Realizing the importance of transparency in this area, the Government is committed to improve its standing in the Open Budget Index (OBI) through a multitude of efforts. These efforts in promoting budget transparency have been able to increase Indonesia’s score from 41 in 2006 to 51 in 2010. More efforts are necessary to improve the score further such as establishing ‘citizen budget’.
Indonesia’s participation in Extractive Industry Transparency Initiative (EITI).
Accepted as EITI candidate country 2010, Indonesia is now well on its way to becoming a compliant country with nine out of twenty requirements have been fulfilled. Indonesia commits to disclose all taxes, royalties and fees it has received from the oil, gas and mining sectors. Companies operating in these sectors will publish what they have paid to the government. These figures will be reconciled by an independent reconciler, in a process overseen by representatives from government, industry and civil society organizations.
Accepted as EITI candidate country 2010, Indonesia is now well on its way to becoming a compliant country with nine out of twenty requirements have been fulfilled. Indonesia commits to disclose all taxes, royalties and fees it has received from the oil, gas and mining sectors. Companies operating in these sectors will publish what they have paid to the government. These figures will be reconciled by an independent reconciler, in a process overseen by representatives from government, industry and civil society organizations.
