U.S. gives $120m for governance development
U.S. gives $120m for governance development
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
The U.S. government has committed an additional US$120 million in
technical assistance grants to support Indonesia to strengthen
its democracy and build more effective local governance.
The commitment to provide the assistance, which is part of a
multi-year government capacity-building program between the U.S.
and Indonesia, was marked in a signing of a memorandum of
understanding on Monday between the two governments at the
National Development Planning Agency (Bappenas).
Representing the Indonesian government was Bappenas deputy for
political affairs I Dewa Putu Rai, while the U.S. was represented
by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) director
William M. Frej.
Witnessing the signing was Bappenas secretary Koensatwanto
Inpasihardjo and U.S. Ambassador to Indonesia Lynn B. Pascoe.
Frej said the assistance would be used in three main programs,
all of which would involve the participation of U.S. government
representatives, Indonesian government institutions -- both at
the national and regional levels -- and local civil society
groups.
The local governance support program, will provide technical
assistance and training to administrations, legislatures, civil
society and the media in up to 100 local districts.
The democratic reform support program, meanwhile, will assist
national institutions and civil society organizations in
promoting open dialog and creating improved policy and laws.
The support for peaceful democratization program will also
provide assistance in the area of conflict resolution, helping
communities overcome the impact of conflict and advancing the
peaceful resolution of strife.
Pascoe anticipated that the assistance would further support
Indonesia's democratization process, following last year's
general elections -- which was a milestone for democracy -- and
this year's regional elections, continuing through to the
establishment of good governance for the people's benefit.
"Democracy must go hand-in-hand with good governance," he
said.
Frej further said that as of last year, the U.S. had provided
some $750 million in technical assistance grants through the
bilateral partnership.
The U.S. recently provided $400 million in grants for the
rehabilitation and the reconstruction of the tsunami-stricken
Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam and North Sumatra's Nias island.