Indonesia gets US$20 million in grants for elections

The Jakarta Post, JAKARTA |Sat, 03/07/2009 11:10 AM  

Donor nations have committed US$20.2 million in grants to Indonesia through multilateral and bilateral schemes  intended to support the country’s democratic elections later this year.

The money will be used to strengthen the capacity of the General Elections Commission (KPU), the Supervisory Elections Body (Bawaslu) and increase the role of women in politics.

Election assistance: State Minister for National Development Planning Paskah Suzetta (center) and Spanish Ambassador to Indonesia Aurora Bernaldez Dicenta (right) smile as UNDP resident representative El-Mostafa Benlamlih (left) looks on after a ceremony to hand over assistance from the Spanish government and the UN for the Indonesian elections. (JP/PJ Leo)
 

“We invite other donors to give grants as Indonesia still needs ‘huge’ money to finance the 2009 elections, including to prepare the presidential election,” Bambang Sutedjo, deputy for politics, law, security at the National Development Planning Board (Bappenas) said.

The Spainish government announced on Friday its commitment to provide 1.25 million euros (Rp 20 billion) to support elections and help empower the Regional Representatives Council (DPD).

Spanish Ambassador to Indonesia Aurora Bernaldez Dicenta as well as UN Resident Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative El-Mostafa Benlamlih announced the commitment at Bappenas’ office. 

The Canadian government was the first donor to pledge, offering US$2 million through the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) in March 2008.

The Australian government, through its overseas aid agency (AusAID) pledged A$7.3 million.

The Dutch government, through the United National Development Program (UNDP), similarly committed about US$1 million for the management of Indonesia’s election rograms.

Britain, through its Department for International Development, has provided $1.4 million.

“The USAID has also committed to grant $8.8 million to support democratic elections in Indonesia,” Bambang said.

Indonesia will hold legislative elections on April 9 and a presidential election on July 8.

Donor countries have set up a Multi-Donor Program (Election MDP) to help increase the level and quality of participation from citizens in the polls by funding voter education and information projects through selected civil society groups.

KPU member Sri Nuryanti said that all the money was managed by the Bappenas.

“Most of the money is allocated for public service advertisements to increase voter participation,” she said.