U.S. pours in more local autonomy aid

U.S. pours in more local autonomy aid

JAKARTA: The United States and Indonesian government signed on
Wednesday an agreement that will provide an additional US$12.65
million for Indonesia to build a strong, decentralized system of
governance.

The U.S. Embassy press statement released on Wednesday said
the assistance, which is part of $55 million multiyear bilateral
agreement, would be used to fund projects that improved local
government management and service delivery.

"We are committed to helping Indonesia demonstrate that
democratic governance is effective and can produce the services
and opportunities people need to improve their lives and the
lives of their children," U.S. Agency for International
Development (USAID) Indonesia director William Frej said after
the signing of the agreement with Director General for Central
and Regional Fiscal Balance Machfud Sidik.

Over the last five years, USAID has worked with the Ministry
of Finance to improve local government capacity in participatory
planning, performance-based budgeting and the management of
services and resources. -- JP