BIGS is a research and advocacy institution created in 1999 and dedicated to:  inclusive and transparent local government budgets; public service accountability, and; local institutional development.  Their current budget activities include research, training, and dissemination of reports, a resource library, web page, and monthly bulletin (Bujet).  The organization's activities are deeply grounded in collaborative and participatory methodologies.

BIGS as an information provider is trying to overcome the asymmetric access to information during the budget process.  BIGS works based on the thesis that asymmetric information leads to a non-transparent budget.  Providing information on the budget process to the public leads to more transparency in the local budget and is also linked to civic and social, economic, and cultural rights.

BIGS is a CSBI grantee since 2004 and is currently building on its initial efforts by strengthening the effective public demand for participatory budgeting.

• Survey on quality of Bandung public services from the consumer’s perspective using the report card method.
• Constructing a local budget transparency index in the West Java Province.
• Developing a conceptual framework of budget journalism.
• Community learning center on the budgeting process: 1) publishing a research report; 2) providing information on the budget process through the website, publishing of monthly bulletin named "Bujet"; and 3) training on the politics of budgeting for community organizers, active citizens, students, NGO activists, and political groups.
• Litigation process of corruption scandal in local parliament involving 45 members of Bandung's city council.

• Political Budget Education for Citizens (with CD).
• The Analysis of Local House Spending. The case of Bandung mayoralty 1997-2002.
• The Portrait of Consumer Satisfaction on Public Services in Bandung.
• The Failure of Democracy.  Viewed from an institutional economic perspective.
• Perception and Preferences of Bandung People on Politics: Reluctant to be Political.
• Understanding Gender-Sensitive Budgeting.
• Those Who Have Just Spent.
• Fighting for Governor.
• The List of Assets of the Bandung Mayoralty.

• Budget Transparency Program performs national and regional budget monitoring in seven provinces since 1999.
• Gender Budgeting Program works toward gender mainstreaming at the regional level.
• General Election Cost Monitoring works in four regions since 2003 to encourage the transparency and accountability of the budget.
• Pro Poor Budget Program works in four regions since 2005 to represent the needs of poor people. The Local Budget Program works in four regions since 2005 including South Central Timor (East Nusa Tenggara), Palu (Central Sulawesi), and Polmas (West Sulawesi).