goodmorningpapua.com – The Indonesian Ministry of National Development Planning (Bappenas) makes partnership with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) to accelerate development in Papua.
The Indonesian National Development Planning Agency and USAID launched a new initiative for the Papua Collaborative Governance Indonesia Program or “USAID Collaboration” to accelerate development in the provinces of Papua and West Papua, the US Embassy said in a statement on Thursday (20/10/2022).
According to the US Embassy, USAID Collaboration is a five-year initiative with US$10 million (approximately Rp155.73 billion) in funding to support the Master Plan for the Acceleration of Development in Papua (RIPPP).
The plan aims to strengthen cooperation with development partners, the business world, and other stakeholders.
The program will assist the provinces of Papua and West Papua to implement the Special Autonomy Fund to provide maximum benefits to the people of Papua and West Papua, the US Embassy said.
The Main Secretary of Bappenas RI Taufik Hanafi said that strengthening cooperation between the Government of Indonesia and USAID under the Collaboration program will play an important role in mobilizing program and funding resources so that they are increasingly focused on achieving development goals in RIPPP.
A Director of USAID Indonesia, Jeff Cohen, said that together with Bappenas and local governments in Papua and West Papua, USAID Collaboration will improve the quality of key public services and improve the skills of local government agencies to oversee budget allocation and implementation, as well as involve the people of Papua and West Papua.
“This new collaboration with Bappenas shows our commitment to support the Indonesian government in realizing a prosperous Papua region,” said Cohen.
“USAID Collaboration promotes collaborative governance in Papua and West Papua by increasing local government capacity and involvement of indigenous Papuans in local development,” he continued.
He added that the United States is committed to partnering with the Government of Indonesia in addressing important development challenges.
USAID hopes to expand its close relationship with Bappenas and work with other local partners such as the University of Cendrawasih and the University of Papua to improve governance functions and accountability in Papua and West Papua, he said.