Netherlands gives US$2.4m donation

Netherlands gives US$2.4m donation

JAKARTA (JP): The Netherlands government handed down on Friday
a US$2.4 million donation to the Jakarta-based Community Recovery
Program through the United Nations Development Program (UNDP).

Netherlands Deputy Ambassador D.S.M. Berendsen and UNDP
Resident Representative Ravi Rajan signed the arrangement at the
UNDP offices.

The donation is aimed at increasing food security, basic and
social services, creating jobs and generating income for
vulnerable segments of society.

The Community Recovery Program (CRP) -- a consortium of 27
non-governmental organizations including Bina Desa, the
Indonesian Environmental Forum (Walhi), the Institute for
Research, Education and Information on Social Economics (LP3ES)
and the Institute for Research and Development (LPPS) -- was
formed in the middle of last year to support small-scale
institutions in various sectors on community development,
environmental protection, technology and education.

Rajan said he hoped the donation would enable civil society to
play "a constructive and dynamic role" in the years ahead. Also
present at the event were former environment minister Emil Salim
and Sri Pamoedjo Rahardjo, now chairman and executive director
respectively of the CRP National Council.

The Netherlands government also contributed a $153.7-million
loan through the Consultative Group on Indonesia in the current
financial year to eradicate poverty and support democratization
in Indonesia.

Last year CRP received commitments of $1.6 million in
assistance for project activities from Britain, New Zealand and
the UNDP. (06)