Donors discuss reform drive

Donors discuss reform drive

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Donor countries and institutions met here on Tuesday to discuss
new assistance to support ongoing governance reform in this
country.

The meeting, held at the offices of the Partnership, an
independent institution set up in 2000 to promote good
governance, was attended by ambassadors of donor countries,
representatives of multilateral institutions such as the World
Bank, Asian Development Bank and UNDP, and local experts, a press
statement said.

"The 20th governing board meeting discussed the continuing
support of international institutions for the reform drive in the
country, which has been implemented over the past five years,"
the statement said.

Reforming state institutions and improving governance are seen
as crucial to helping combat rampant corruption in the country.

Partnership had been receiving funds from donors to reform the
regulatory system, the management of public finances, the civil
service, the police, the Attorney General's Office and the
judiciary.

"One of the successful reform drives launched by Partnership
is in the anti-graft area," the statement said, pointing to the
support it had given in establishing the Corruption Eradication
Commission (KPK), which is now playing a crucial role in
uncovering a number of high profile graft cases.

It added that Partnership also helped in the investigation of
graft cases involving West Sumatra councillors.

"During the past five years, Partnership has developed and
implemented some 264 reform programs in six key sectors ... The
total funds disbursed have reached more than US$33 million," the
statement said, adding that the organization had also spent
another $5 million on short-term programs.