PROGRAM REPRESENTASI (PROREP) MONTHLY NEWSLETTER
July—August 2013
J ULY —A UGUST H IGHLIGHTS Policy Research Network “Takes Off”
The members of the newly established Policy Research Network (PRN) visited the U.S. Congress in Washington, D.C. during the one-week observational study visit held in late June. Pictured here with Representative David Price (D-NC).
ProRep’s support for strengthening public policy research includes facilitating the establishment of a Policy Research Network (PRN) in Indonesia. In late June, ProRep, with U.S. think tank Urban Institute, conducted a study tour to Washington D.C. for members of the nascent PRN to learn how research networks influence public policymaking in the United States. Beginning in August, ProRep is also providing grant funding to support the initial stages of the PRN. The Policy Research Network was established in early 2013 with five founding member organizations - The Institute for Economic and Social Research, Faculty of Economics University of Indonesia (LPEM FEUI), Paramadina Public Policy Institute (PPPI), Women Research Institute (WRI), Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), and Institute for Research and Empowerment (IRE). A key focus of the network is to find ways to overcome barriers to influencing public policy while stimulating collaboration and learning
“I now have an improved understanding on fundraising strategies and how to grow our research institution.” Policy Research Network Member
among the membership, which is expected to expand as the network becomes more established. During the visit, the seven delegates from Indonesia met with and learned from a number of senior researchers from the Urban Institute and other leading research institutions including the Brookings Institute and the International Center for Research on Women. They also had the opportunity to observe a legislative hearing of the U.S. Congress and discuss incentives for legislatures to increase usage of more analytic policy information. Through this visit, the participants learned how to develop a fundraising strategy for research products and how to move beyond sponsordefined projects. They also discussed ways to best communicate research results as well as resources, risks and rewards in think tank management. One of the enthusiastic participants said, “I now have an improved understanding on fund-raising strategies and how to grow our research institution. I am very keen to share this with my colleagues as soon as we arrive back in Jakarta.” On August 25, ProRep awarded a grant to LPEM FEUI, the organization serving as the Secretariat, to support the network in this first phase. The Policy Research Network will hold its first member workshop in September to formulate their strategic direction, identify priority issues to be worked on, and establish an effective coordination mechanism among their members.
This newsletter is made possible by the support of the American People through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). The contents of this newsletter are the sole responsibility of Chemonics International and do not necessarily reflect the views of USAID or the United States Government.
PROGRAM REPRESENTASI (PROREP) MONTHLY NEWSLETTER
July—August 2013
J ULY —A UGUST H IGHLIGHTS
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InProSuLa and Association of Farmers Groups Advocate for the Decentralization of the ‘Rice for the Poor’ or Raskin Program
Cak Nun, accompanied by Bupati Wardoyo, Tjuk Eko Hari Basuki (Chairman of Food Availability and Security Center, Ministry of Agriculture), and singer Novia Kolopaking, delivers sermon to the people in Yogyakarta. The Bupati, representatives from the provincial DPRD and Ministry of Agriculture, along with community representatives signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) committing themserves to make their food soverignity vision a reality
ProRep is partnering with InProSuLa, a CSO promoting sustainable livelihoods, to develop the Association of Farmers Groups or Asosiasi Gapoktan in Central Java to have a stronger voice and influence on policies related to food security. As part of this effort, on July 19, InProSuLa and the local government of Kulon Progo co-hosted a grand sermon to raise awareness on the food security issues facing the region and how to make the government food subsidy program called ‘Rice for the Poor’ or Raskin, more effective. Led by a performance and preaching group, Kiyai Kanjeng with the nationally renowned artist, Emha Ainun Najib (Cak Nun), the event drew more than 5,000 people – residents of the district of Kulon Progo, heads of local government agencies, Members from the Kulon Progo and Yogyakarta Local Parliaments (DPRDs), and representatives of farmer groups from East Java, West Java, and Central Java. The District Head or Bupati was impressed with the turnout, noting, “This is the most complete presence of government officials in any conference or meeting that the local government or DPRD has ever held”. Using the local language, Cak Nun encouraged the audience to look beyond ‘food security’ and strive for ‘food sovereignty’ – a movement which puts more control in the hands of food producers and makes greater use of local resources to meet the nutritional needs of communities. This hits close to home for the residents of Kulon Progo since the district produces a surplus of rice, yet rice is being imported for distribution through the Raskin program. The event culminated with a signed
commitment of the stakeholders – including the Bupati, DPRD Members and representatives from the Ministry of Agriculture – to take actions to advance food sovereignty in the district. The grand sermon is a part of InProSuLa’s continuous efforts to advocate for decentralized management of Raskin and greater food security in Central Java. Together with the farmers groups they have developed outreach materials, participated in a radio talk show, facilitated a public hearing with the Yogyakarta DPRD and met with the Ministry of Agriculture and Members and staff from the DPR’s Commission VIII (social welfare) and IV (agriculture). As next steps, they plan to build alliances with other organizations and research institutions interested in improving Raskin and launch a party or fraksi roadshow to get broader commitment from political parties on this issue. InProSuLa and the Association of Farmers Groups from Central Java are committed to continuing these efforts so that policy decisions and funding for government programs can truly benefit local farmers and communities.
“This is the most complete presence of government officials in any conference or meeting that the local government or DPRD has ever held.” The District Head (Bupati) of Kulon Progo
PROGRAM REPRESENTASI (PROREP) MONTHLY NEWSLETTER
July—August 2013
J ULY —A UGUST H IGHLIGHTS
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ProRep Equips CSO Leaders with Tools to Effect Positive Changes in their Communities The term social transformation is understood as effecting changes in society towards a new or improved state. Ideally, leaders in development should be facilitators of social transformation and drivers of positive change - allowing them to impact the attitudes, expectations and behaviors of the individuals, organizations and communities around. For the past two years, ProRep has focused on building the capacity of the Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) through various trainings. The Creative Advocacy, Constituency Building, Engaging with Policymakers, and Using Social Media for Advocacy trainings have helped partners effect improvements in their advocacy strategies and change the ways they reach out to Members of national and local parliament and other policymakers. Through ProRep grant support, these same partners have put these new skills into action as they work to expand their memberships and push for policy changes to benefit the individuals and groups they represent. As these institutions are strengthened, it is also important to help the CSO leaders to become strong facilitators for social transformation. This August in Yogyakarta, ProRep trained 15 leaders from ten partner CSOs on techniques for effective facilitation with a focus on how to identify and drive social transformation. The training was facilitated by Pak Cahyo Suryanto, a CSO development specialist, who in his opening remarks noted that one cannot facilitate social transformation if one cannot transform within oneself.
Madekhan, Director of CSO Prakarsa in East Java (pictured left), learns from a farmer from Pepen village (pictured right), how her community was able to transition to organic farming.
The training covered both theory and practice and culminated with participants taking their newly strengthened facilitation skills to the nearby farming village of Pepen. The trainees discussed
with these farmers how they were able to make the transition to organic farming and then analyzed the specific circumstances surrounding the transformation that occurred in this community.
“One cannot facilitate social transformation if one cannot transform within oneself.” Cahyo Suryanto, CSO Development Specialist
PROGRAM REPRESENTASI (PROREP) MONTHLY NEWSLETTER
J ULY —A UGUST H IGHLIGHTS
July—August 2013 P AGE 4
Partners Learn New Techniques for Reporting Under ProRep’s program to build the representational capacity of membership-based civil society organizations (CSOs), ProRep designed and delivered a training for twenty four representatives of twelve CSOs to help them learn effective techniques for report-writing. These organization are working to articulate their advocacy strategy, lessons learned and successes to constituents, policy makers and donors in a concise and convincing manner, particularly in the written form. For this training ProRep staff partnered with best-selling Indonesian novelist Ahmad Faudi, who shared his expertise on how to identify and tell captivating stories. As a result of this training, partners are better equipped to share the impact of their work in a compelling way. Alfi, a participant from Cakrawala Timur in ProRep’s Report Writing Training, is practicing the ‘mind map’ technique—a way to visually outline information.
W HAT ’ S C OMING I N S EPTEMBER ?
Peer learning workshop on strengthening constituent-representative relations. To identify best practices in strengthening constituent-representative relations, ProRep will facilitate a discussion among implementing partners working in this field, including JABAT grantees, Constituent Relations Liaisons (CRLs) working with JABAT MPs on recess visits, staff of JABAT MPs, and other CSOs. The event will be held September 17 to 19 in Serpong, Tangerang.
Civic journalism workshop for CSOs. In cooperation with the USAID-funded KINERJA program, ProRep will hold a workshop on civic journalism September 23 to 26. This session will help CSO partners make better use of mass media to inform the public on key issues, while engaging citizens and enhancing public participation.
Art performance by JABAT grantee, Cakrawala Timur. As part of its effort to advocate to policy makers for the interests of former migrant workers, Surabaya-based partner Cakrawala Timur will organize an art performance in Tulang Agung and Blitor in the September.
Public dialogue on education issues by JABAT grantee, Prakarsa. Surabaya-based partner Prakarsa, will hold a public dialogue entitled “Building Commitment on Pro-poor Educational Policy” on September 4 and 5.
Program Representasi (ProRep) is a three to five year project on democracy and governance supported by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). Its aim is to improve representation in Indonesia by increasing the inclusiveness and effectiveness of groups and institutions that seek to express people’s interests to government and by increasing the transparency and effectiveness of legislative processes. Program Representasi (ProRep) is implemented by Chemonics International in partnership with the Urban Institute, Social Impact and Kemitraan. For more information visit www.prorep.or.id or contact us at prorep@prorep.or.id.