New Zealand aid focuses on social projects
New Zealand aid focuses on social projects
JAKARTA (JP): The New Zealand government is helping finance a
number of projects in Indonesia designed to promote the welfare
of the poor and disadvantaged groups.
This is done by channeling funds from some of the New Zealand
Official Development Assistance (ODA) to grassroots organizations
that help and organize street children, marginalized farmers,
migrant women and environmental protection.
A number of NGOs who are recipients of the New Zealand aid
yesterday made a presentation of their program in front of New
Zealand Ambassador Tim Groser, officials from the Development
Cooperation Division of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade
and the embassy's Development Program Manager Julian M. Boileau.
Among the recipients of the aid for the 1993-1994 fiscal year
are the Amalia Foundation (skill-training and income generating
for street children), the Foundation for Independent Welfare and
Health Promotion (improvement of agriculture yields) and Center
for Women's Resources Development (services for migrant workers
and their families).
New Zealand last year allocated Rp 120 million (US$55,000) for
urban poverty alleviation projects from its Rp 500 million-aid
for small grant programs, in support of Indonesia's poverty
eradication program.
Boileau told The Jakarta Post and the Antara news agency that
most of the funding from ODA, which is part of New Zealand's
bilateral aid program, had been going to rural areas.
Presidential aid
But since President Soeharto last year announced a special
presidential aid for underdeveloped villages, New Zealand shifted
part of its funds for poverty alleviation projects.
Boileau said New Zealand has been granting ODA to Indonesia
for almost 10 years and each year about 40 grants are rewarded to
various NGOs, worth between Rp 10 million to 20 million each.
"Its not a lot of money... but it makes a difference for the
people. And from our point of view only a minimum amount of
administration is involved," Groser added.
Most of the grant was given on a "personal contact and
personal judgment" basis, he said, pointing out that the
relatively small amount would be more efficiently and effectively
used if less bureaucratic procedures were involved.
"These funds are given in consultation and approval with the
National Development Planning Board (Bappenas), the Cabinet
Secretariat and the provincial governments," he said.
Boileau said 70 percent of the ODA small grants program funds
for Indonesia went to the underdeveloped, eastern part of
Indonesia, including East Timor.
Groser and Boileau admitted they often faced difficulties and
apprehension in disbursing the aid as they had to "watch out that
the money doesn't fall into the wrong hands".
Despite the difficulties, Groser and Boileau admitted that so
far, they results were good. (pwn)