Jakarta, IO – Wahana Visi Indonesia (WVI) introduced the USAID Collaboration Program at a media meeting with a number of journalists in Jakarta. This meeting presented speakers from partners’ representatives involved in the program, including a representative from the West Papua Province regional government, Fransina Kaaf. Selviana Indira Wopari, Erina Kartori and Head of the USAID Collaboration Program and Caroline Tupamahu, representing the community movement.
The US/AID Collaboration Program is an initiative aiming to improve the people’s welfare, especially Indigenous Papuans (OAP), by optimally managing Otonomi Khusus (Otsus)—Special Autonomy—funds.
Following the issuance of Law (UU) Number 2 of 2021, the Special Autonomy in Papua has entered its second period, which will remain in force until 2041. A number of changes in regulations and budget distribution scenarios distinguish the current period’s special autonomy. Local governments still face several challenges, including inadequate local government accountability and a lack of local OAP citizen participation in local governance.
“The USAID Collaborative Program was established in collaboration with the Ministry of National Development Planning and is supported by the American people through the US Agency for International Development (US/AID). Since 2022, the program has been running in Papua and West Papua, by approaching the government regarding supply and society for demand,” said Caroline Tupamahu, Head of the US/AID Collaboration initiative.
To increase the local government capacity in managing the Otsus funds, US/AID Collaboration, together with the Bappeda of Papua and West Papua Provinces, has developed two learning modules and provided training and assistance to 505 State Civil Apparatuses (ASN).
“The current Special Autonomy rules have changed, and not everyone understands the changes. As a result, we were trained to understand the new Special Autonomy regulations and given the opportunity to also facilitate other Regional Apparatus Organizations (OPD) colleagues on how to plan properly, on time, and on target,” explained Fransina.
As the Head of the Special Autonomy Evaluation and Reporting Subdivision at the Administration Bureau for the Implementation of Special Autonomy—Regional Secretariat of West Papua Province, Frasina currently provides training in the US/ AID Collaboration program. In her active participation in the training, she acknowledges the benefits of the training in increasing ASN knowledge about managing the Special Autonomy (Otsus) Funds.
On the other hand, the community’s active participation also plays an important role in regional development, which US/AID Collaboration actively encourages. The programs began with policy boot camp training for driving figures, followed by teaching locals through the “Suara dan Aksi Warga” program (expressing the citizens’ aspirations and helping them take action).
Selviana Indira, one of the community movement figures, said that the USAID Collaborative Program exerted a positive impact on the OAP community, helping them understand their rights related to the Special Autonomy Fund. Residents can also submit feedback on the continuing Special Autonomy initiatives and engage in a two-way dialogue with program implementers and local government representatives. Residents and local governments can instantly apply practical solutions to problems they encounter in numerous activities. The educational programs have reached 1,088 communities, involving 57 local champions as facilitators.
“I was chosen to represent the women and youth as a driving force in the village. Following the boot camp, I had the opportunity to represent the village in the Development Planning Meeting (Musrenbang),” said Indira.
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Angelina Theodora, WVI’s National Director, describes Wahana Visi Indonesia as an organization focused on children and praises US/AID’s partnership in this program. “We hope that the proper and on-target special autonomy fund management will bring prosperity to children in Papua,” she hoped.
The USAID Collaborative Program will last until 2027 and be carried out by the humanitarian foundation Wahana Visi Indonesia (WVI), in collaboration with the Kitong Bisa Foundation (KBF) and the International NGO Forum on Indonesian Development (INFID). (des/ast)