Tsunami Reconstruction
Objective: Relief and recovery for those affected by the tragic December 2004 tsunami.
Program Description
Over the past five years, USAID has successfully implemented a relief and humanitarian assistance program in Aceh Province as emergency efforts transitioned to rehabilitation, reconstruction, and new development activities. Initial interventions addressing food security, health, water and sanitation, and housing evolved into major efforts in the areas of livelihoods assistance, education, environment, local government capacity building, conflict mitigation, and the creation of new educational facilities and major road infrastructure. Most of those projects have been completed while some await completion in 2010. Future activities are awaited as USAID/Indonesia enters a new five-year strategic planning period in 2010. Those activities that remain ongoing are described below:
Programs
Rebuilding Banda Aceh - Calang Road
Following the tsunami of 2004, USAID committed to lead construction of a new west coast highway from Banda Aceh to Calang. Work is well under way with more than 68 kilometers of the new road open to public use. Work is in progress at all other locations, with 10 bridges complete and 13 more under construction. Work previously on hold is being repackaged for a new construction contract. All work is expected to be complete by the end of 2010.
Generating jobs and income for Acehnese farmers
USAID through its implementing partner, the National Cooperative Business Association (NCBA), is successfully assisting farmer-owned coffee and patchouli cooperatives in the central highlands and the west coast region of Aceh. Through the project’s extension services, NCBA is improving production and processing techniques that bring added value to local coffee and patchouli. Through enhanced quality and newly established markets,. Aceh’s coffee and patchouli have become sought-after products by some of the largest global wholesalers. Approximately 5 thousand tons of grade certified organic coffee has been exported to Starbucks Coffee Company. The project trains more than 7,500 farmers and 700 families in organic coffee and patchouli oil production, respectively. Also under this project, a microfinance program has been made available to women whose livelihoods were overturned by the tsunami. The program provides small loans that are enabling them to restart small scale family-based enterprises. Support is provided through cooperative mechanisms in Banda Aceh and Aceh Besar. NCBA assists 37 women’s cooperatives (Kopwan), benefiting 3,500 women borrowers with loans totaling $1.5 million. Growth of the coffee, patchouli, and microfinance sectors has had a significant positive impact on the rural economy. The NCBA-assisted cooperatives have become private sector employers in Aceh Province, generating over 1,800 jobs.
The Aceh Polytechnic
USAID partnered with Chevron and the provincial Government of Aceh to build a new state-of-the-art vocational training center, the Politeknik Aceh – which enabled residents to take a major step forward towards economic recovery. The construction work was completed in August 2008. The Politeknik Aceh has 20 classrooms, laboratories and lecturers’ offices, as well as an administration office, auditorium, library, amphitheater, and a spacious, comfortable open area. The first academic year started in September 2008, enrolling 240 students (25% female) in a three-year diploma program in high demand fields such as information technology, business accounting, applied electronics, and mechatronics (mechanical and electronic engineering). Most of the students are from Aceh Province. During the 2009-2010 academic year, 200 students enrolled. The college will ultimately accommodate around 1,000 students. This program will prepare Acehnese graduates for job opportunities in entrepreneurial or technical professions. Complementing this project, the government of Aceh has completed construction of three vocational high schools in other parts of the province to attract domestic and international investment needed to achieve economic recovery.
Improving the quality of basic and higher education
The USAID Decentralized Basic Education (DBE) Program improves school governance and management, and teaching and learning in 143 public and private elementary schools in five districts. The project works with education officials and other stakeholders to implement transparent and accountable systems that utilize data management and financial analysis programs. In schools, teachers are becoming better prepared to improve student performance in key subjects as science, math, and language. To ensure full stakeholder participation, the DBE program works with members of parliament, the local media, and non-governmental organizations to build their capacity to reinforce or monitor these development efforts. Beginning with the fall of 2009, the school management and teacher training program will be expanded to the entire province.
USAID has provided a grant to UNSYIAH for the rehabilitation and construction of its teachers’ training facility, including technical assistance to help teachers in Aceh meet mandated academic qualification standards. UNSYIAH is the leading university offering teachers training program in the Aceh Province. The grant assistance is provided in coordination with the National Planning Agency (Bappenas). The new FKIP Building (Fakultas Keguruan dan Ilmu Pendidikan – Teacher Training College) is expected to almost double in size through the addition of 9,600 square meters of space for classrooms – including laboratories for physics and chemistry, and biology classes that will meet international standards. The new teaching college will have a library, an auditorium, an outdoor canteen area, and administrative facilities. Students will have access to a TV network and wireless internet connection within the facility that will provide other educational mediums. This is expected to help increase college enrollment in the Aceh Province and build the capacity of the university to attract more students.