U.S. Aid Agency: Indonesia Could Be Example

United States Agency for International Development revealed that Indonesia could become a model of development for many developing countries. In some areas in Indonesia in recent years, more and more involved in community development in education and health sectors.
Assessment was made deputy head of USAID for Asia, Nisha Biswal. "In many ways, Indonesia is the laboratory's success can be emulated in many places in the world," Biswal said in a press conference in Jakarta, 14 September 2011.
"So in a relationship and our programs in Indonesia, we also attempted to identify the challenges that arise in our mission in Asia, Africa and the Middle East," said Biswal. He completed a four-day visit in Indonesia, which was the first time he visited.
That is why, says Biswal, Indonesia is one key to the implementation of USAID missions around the world. For example, former USAID Mission Director in Indonesia, Walter North, is now stationed in Cairo, Egypt. "That's because his knowledge and experience of work in Indonesia that could be applied in the current placement in the Middle East since the region was experiencing an important transition," said Biswal.
According to the monitoring of USAID, Indonesia recorded a lot of progress, especially the amazing economic growth. "But we realize that the distribution of growth to all corners of the country remains a challenge, as well as in distributing service to society as a fair and equitable at the local level. So we try to help, especially in human resource capacity building and governance," said Biswal, which previously served in the U.S. House of Representatives Budget Committee.
Educational Aids
Education, according to Biswal, is one important element in increasing capacity. So for this sector USAID helps improve school management system in Indonesia. This system involves a more intensive participation of parents of students in the School Committee to oversee and assist the quality of teaching and learning.
"So this can help schools and authorities at the district / sub-district to increase capacity in accordance with the curriculum and standards that have been established by local governments," said Biswal. Through USAID, the U.S. delivering aid worth U.S. $ 45.5 million to support basic and higher education programs in Indonesia.
The new director of USAID in Indonesia, Glenn Anders, revealed that they have helped about 1,500 schools in Indonesia in assisting the decentralized basic education. One school that gets attention is the Elementary School 02 in Sidoarjo, East Java.
"Working closely with the Government of Indonesia, we are working to improve student with the application of active learning in the classroom and school management improvement," said Anders.
In the health sector, USAID noted that the program was a success is the support for national programs to alleviate tuberculosis (TB). "The success of this program in Indonesia can be applied in other countries," said USAID staff.
This USAID program, according to Anders, is part of long-term U.S. commitment in strengthening bilateral relations with Indonesia. Last year USAID budgeted more than U.S. $ 200 million to support development in Indonesia on five areas: education, democracy and governance, environment, health, and economic growth.