US-AEP aids Indonesia

US-AEP aids Indonesia

JAKARTA (JP): The United States-Asia Environmental Partnership
(US-AEP), an interagency program led by the United States Agency
for International Development (USAID), is to contribute
US$750,000 to the country's social safety-net programs as part of
its efforts to help Indonesia recover from its worst-ever crisis.

U.S. Ambassador Stapleton Roy signed memoranda of
understanding with two local nonprofit organizations, Friends of
the Environment Fund (Dana Mitra Lingkungan) and the Indonesian
Society of Sanitary and Environmental Engineers (Ikatan Ahli
Teknik Penyehatan dan Teknik Lingkungan Indonesia) on Tuesday on
the distribution of the aid.

Roy said that the agreements reflected the United States'
support for efforts to strengthen Indonesia's social safety net
and to speed economic recovery.

"The current USAID program will more than double in size this
year, growing to more than $125 million," he said.

The US-AEP has allocated $350,000 to the Eco-Productivity
Outreach Crops and Waste Exchange Program with the aim of
assisting small and medium industries contribute to the country's
economic recovery.

Part of the US-AEP's financial commitment in this program was
a $100,000 grant to Dana Mitra Lingkungan. (aly)