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)