Social Accounts Working Group

Background

The Social Accounts Working Group was established by the Global Ocean Accounts Partnership (GOAP) in 2024 to ensure that social, cultural and equity considerations are recognised and accounted for in Ocean Accounting and decision-making about ocean and coastal development.

The Working Group provides a structure for diverse individuals and organisations to collaborate on measuring the human dimensions of ocean sustainability.

Social Accounts are essential for making visible the human dimensions of ocean sustainability.

Social Accounts capture, analyse, and reports data related to how people depend on the ocean for their livelihoods, wellbeing, food security, and cultural practice, recognising that sustainable ocean development must benefit all communities equitably.

Interested in being part of the Working Group?

Complete the sign up form and be part of developing the future for Social Accounts

We aim to

• Support evidence-based policy that recognises the diverse values of the ocean
• Raise awareness of the importance of social, cultural, and equity dimensions in ocean decision-making
• Share expertise and best practices across regions and sectors
• Build capacity and develop knowledge through training, workshops, and resources
• Foster global collaboration through joint research, projects, and knowledge exchange
• Coordinate and implement Social Accounts frameworks for the Ocean globally
• Provide guidance and leadership on Social Accounts research and practice

Organising Committee

Dr Bernice Serwah Ofosu-Baadu

Assistant Chief Statistician

Statistics Ghana, Ghana

Prof Joleen Steyn Jotze

Chief Research Specialist

Human Sciences Research Council, South Africa

Prof Kate Barclay

Professor International Studies

University of Technology Sydney, Australia

Dr Tainã (Tai Loureiro) Gonçalves Loureiro

University Lecturer

University of Western Australia, Australia

Rachel Thoms

Research Associate

World Resources Institute, USA

Interested in joining the Working Group?

If you're interested in joining the Social Accounts Working Group, please complete the sign-up form below.

We invite organisations and individuals to join the group and contribute their expertise and insights through collaborative research, pilot testing, knowledge sharing, and active participation in developing Social Accounts frameworks. Members can engage at the level that suits their capacity, whether through quarterly meetings, focused working groups, data sharing, or leadership roles on the Organising Committee.

By joining, you gain access to a global community of practice, the latest research and methodologies on Social Accounts, capacity-building resources, and networking/opportunities to build collaborations and develop funding applications. 

If you have any questions, please reach out to r.shellock@unsw.edu.au from the GOAP Secretariat.

Learn more about Social Accounts

Social Accounts

Social Accounts are the outputs of capturing, analysing, and reporting of data related to the social, cultural and equity dimensions of the human-ocean relationship within the Ocean Accounts framework.

The Global Ocean Accounts PartnershipGOAP Secretariat

Why ocean data must include people

Coastal communities remain largely invisible in ocean policy decisions. A new eight-country analysis reveals that countries have the tools and data to start integrating social data into Ocean Accounts transforming ocean governance into an instrument of equity.

The Global Ocean Accounts PartnershipGOAP Secretariat

The Social Data Audit Tool

The GOAP Social Data Audit Tool is designed to help countries evaluate whether existing national data systems can support the integration of social dimensions into Ocean Accounts. Using a systematic methodology, you can identify and assess existing social data sources without requiring costly new data collection. The tool was developed

The Global Ocean Accounts PartnershipGOAP Secretariat