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.