Introduction

In the 2018-2019 reporting period, the Netherlands continued to focus on sectors in which Dutch expertise can add specific value: security and rule of law, water and agriculture. Dutch know-how in these areas can be used to contribute to the realisation of several SDGs. Within and outside these sectors, the Netherlands also contributed to private sector development and education. For the purpose of this report we focus on two sectors: water and security and rule of law.

In 2018-2019, Indonesia managed to maintain growth of around 5%, which is consistent with previous years. Nevertheless, challenges remain in terms of ease of doing business and these are hampering development through trade and foreign investment. In the field of security and rule of law, important processes have been unfolding. Among others, the Supreme Court has begun to develop a new long-term strategy. Dutch co-operation is closely linked to this, for example through co-operation in the field of planning and budgeting. Additionally, 1,600 new judges have begun their education – the first batch for many years.

Politically, 2019 was an eventful year due to the presidential elections that took place in April. The largest single-day election process in the world proceeded well. The following months were less calm, with demonstrations linked to the election result, new legislation being debated in parliament and the situation in Papua.

Results 2019

Water

The two remaining sanitation programmes (USDP2 and SEHATI) have contributed concretely to the planning, budgeting and implementation of sanitation and hygiene programmes in their respective programme areas, as well as beyond, through replication. Intensive collaboration with central, municipal and district governments and building their capacity have proven to be an effective approach.

Security and Rule of Law

The rule of law programme has made significant steps in this period. Apart from the continuation of efforts to provide better access to justice for vulnerable groups and for the improvement of community policing in Papua, West Papua and Maluku, in 2018-2019 a number of projects showed significant results. Studiecentrum Rechtspleging (SSR), for example, was the main partner of the Indonesian training centre for judges in the development of the new education programme for 1,600 new judges (the Dutch RAIO programme). Significant changes to the system of education, assessment and monitoring were developed with the support of SSR. Another collaboration initiated the development of standard operating procedures for the use of electronic evidence in the Indonesian legal system.

Background

Water

Thanks to the support provided by Simavi (SHAW) and SNV (STBM Lampung), close to an additional 1.67 million people in Sumatra and East Indonesia have gained sustainable access to sanitary facilities since 2012. Close co-operation with and capacity building of local government and non-government partners has proven to be a powerful approach to improving the planning, budgeting and implementation of national sanitation programmes. In the second phase of the National Capital Integrated Coastal Development (NCICD2) project, good progress has been made in the development of a new Integrated Flood Safety Plan (IFSP) to reduce the risk of floods in Jakarta. The current plan responds to environmental and social concerns raised earlier and offers technical solutions and acceleration strategies for flood safety measures, reduction of land subsidence, drinking water supply and sanitation. Progress towards a concrete investment decision has however been slow thus far, due in particular to provincial and national elections.

Security and Rule of Law

The Netherlands and Indonesia are strategic partners with a shared past. Due to their shared legal heritage, the added value of legal co-operation between the Netherlands and Indonesia is highly recognised. The rule of law programme works through a combination of support to local NGOs, research and lobbying for legal reform, capacity building and peer-to-peer collaboration between Dutch and Indonesian legal institutions. Through relations built over many years, very effective advice on legal reform and legal education can be provided. Even if the individual steps achieved sometimes seem small, together they can ultimately lead to fundamental changes in the legal system. For most of our programmes, close co-operation with local authorities and community leaders has proven to be the key to success.

Glimpse into the future

Water

The SNV Lampung programme ended in late 2017. Since the activities of Simavi (with the new SEHATI programme) and the second phase of the USDP will be phased out by the end of 2020, in their exit strategies these programmes will continue to focus on consolidation and the sustainability of results and approaches.

Regarding the Netherlands’ technical assistance (TA) to Jakarta coastal flood safety (through the second phase of the National Capital Integrated Coastal Development Programme - NCICD2), which is also being phased out by the end of 2020, the Netherlands TA input will also increasingly focus on knowledge management and institutional/capacity development.

Security and Rule of Law

The rule of law programme was in its final year in 2019, although a small transition facility will remain in place for a few more years. This transition facility focuses on a number of long-term relationships between the Dutch and Indonesian legal institutions, which will continue their strategic engagement in certain key reform processes. This includes the collaboration between the Hoge Raad and the Indonesian Supreme Court, and the collaboration between the Dutch and Indonesian Ombudsman.

The impact of the Covid-19 pandemic is most likely severe. The extent to which this affects our current and future projects is still unknown.