Program Representasi
In this edition : Equipping CSOs, Think Tanks, and Policy Makers With the Tools to Bring About Policy Improvements Page. 1
Research Institutes Maximize the Impact of their Policy Research Page. 6
What’s Coming in March Page. 9
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. All images are property of Š USAID/Program Representasi unless otherwise stated.
Vol. 1 2014
Newsletter
Fishing boat in Indramayu, West Java. Fishing boat in Indramayu, West Java. From April 2012 to May 2013, ProRep provided a capacity-building program to help the Federation of Fishermen Alliance of the Indonesian Archipelago (FSNN) advocate for greater transparency in the utilization of the state budget on the implementation of the national program for improving the welfare of fisherfolk (PKN) in Indramayu, Garut, Sukabumi in West Java, Banten, Yogyakarta, and Jember, East Java.
Equipping CSOs, Think Tanks, and Policy Makers With the Tools to Bring About Policy Improvements Program Representasi (ProRep) is providing CSOs and think tanks with tools to develop vibrant and sustainable organizations well equipped to support a democracy in Indonesia that responds to the needs of Indonesians and protects the natural environment. This support includes a range of tailored trainings and technical assistance to help these organizations upgrade their advocacy, research and outreach efforts, and to develop strategic plans and methods to measure their success. ProRep has also worked hand in hand with policy makers committed to reform and supported their own efforts to improve oversight, law making and representation.
CSOs Plan for the Road Ahead This January and February, ProRep conducted a series of workshops which combined tools for Organizational Analysis and Development (OAD) and SelfAssessment of Competence (SAC) for five partner organizations and their networks – the Indonesian Center for Environmental Law (ICEL), the Alliance of Independent Journalists (AJI), the Foundation of Integrated Efforts (YSKK), the Women’s Association of Small Business Assistance (ASPPUK), and the Indonesian Parliamentary Center (IPC).
ProRep | Newsletter Vol.1 2014
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Chairunnisa, from the forestry division of ICEL explains the achievements that the organization has made so far in regards to the Indonesian Public Disclosure Act (UU KIP).
ProRep partner, ICEL, an independent
exposed them to several new ideas,
NGO supporting sustainable
among them; the importance of
environmental management through
analyzing external factors that
research, advocacy and community
may affect your achieving your
empowerment, worked with
objectives; anticipating potential
ProRep this January to map out the
obstacles and risks, and being
organization’s strategy and take stock
prepared with alternative courses
of its effectiveness. Seventeen staff
of action; and the benefits of
members from ICEL committed their
using a systematic scoring
time and energy to this three-day
method to prioritize program
process which helped them to map
interventions. Strategic planning
out the internal and external factors
and organizational assessment
affecting their organization, develop an
are ongoing processes, and AJI
overall sustainability plan and specific
and YSKK now have the tools to
work plans for each division, and identify
replicate them periodically.
gaps in institutional performance and ways to address them. Also in January, ProRep staff, in partnership with the global training and consultancy agency, MDF, delivered a workshop for staff of AJI and YSKK to help each institution define a strategic orientation and determine a solid program agenda for the next one-year. Participants commented that this training
Danu Sukendro, a journalist and coordinator of the Organizational Development Division of AJI in Kediri writes the group’s assessment of their organizational competence.
Darwanto, Budget Advocacy Coordinator of the Indonesia Budget Center facilitates a community meeting in Brebes, Central Java. Excellent facilitation is a must-have skill for activists working to empower and motivate communities to speak up and be united, and to facilitate fruitful dialogue between communities, leaders and policy makers.
Facilitation Skills - An Art, Not A Science Activists who wish to lobby stakeholders, and compile feedback for policy reform need to master the skill of participatory facilitation to be effective in their role. With proper facilitation skills, one can more effectively guide discussions, build consensus, and manage group dynamics so that individuals work together more effectively. From February 24 to 28, twenty activists participated in the Art of Facilitation training held by ProRep in Bogor, West Java. The participants represented nine CSOs – Pasundan Peasant Union (SPP), the Federation of Karya Utama Trade Union (FSBKU), ASPPUK, Prakarsa, Development of the People’s Initiatives and Advocacy (PIAR), Aksara, Cakrawala Timur, the Association of Indonesian Women’s Unions (HAPSARI), and the Indonesia Budget Center (IBC). During the four-day training, the activists learned key facilitation techniques and explored ways to be more creative in planning, facilitating, and following up on meetings. On the first day, without any preparation, participants practiced their current facilitation skills in a nearby community under the observation of the trainers. Afterward, in the class, each participant shared their experience and assessed their own strengths and challenges in facilitation. Trainers then worked with the participants to address their specific capacity gaps by training them to improve their facilitation techniques.
ProRep | Newsletter Vol.1 2014
MPs and Staff Learn How to Better Connect with Constituents In January 2014, ProRep released a guidebook on effective recess visit management for members of parliament (MPs) entitled Kiat Blusukan or Tips for Effective Visits to the Electoral District. Through this userfriendly manual, MPs and their staff will have access to cutting-edge expertise on MP-constituent relations, along with lessons learned from the real-life application of constituent outreach programs through ProRep’s own JABAT initiative. Launched in July 2012, JABAT (Jangkau dan Libatkan, meaning ‘Reach Out and Engage’), programs worked to improve the way the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR) Members interacted and engaged with the constituents in their electoral districts. It also educated and empowered constituents to better channel their aspirations (i.e., needs) to their representatives. Through this multifaceted initiative, ProRep sought to improve representation by empowering actors working “upstream” to influence decision makers, and also “downstream” by helping policy makers listen to and act on the aspirations expressed by their constituents. Seventeen DPR Members from nine different political parties representing sixteen different electoral districts, seventeen member expert staff, five CSOs advocating for various policy issues in the JABAT electoral districts, and over 11,005 Indonesian citizens participated in this program.
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Kiat Blusukan will be distributed to
Yusran Isnaini, expert staff of the
each of the 560 current DPR Members
fraction of the National Mandate Party
and many more copies will be shared
(PAN) shared, “Through this training,
with parties interested in improved
we can provide inputs to the MPs
constituent outreach and enhanced
and also other expert staff on ways to
representation. In February, ProRep
reach the public more effectively.”
also held an intensive three-day training on the contents of the book for 44 expert staff who assist their MPs in planning, executing and following up
The book is available for download here: http://www.prorep.or.id/en/wp-content/ uploads/downloads/2014/02/Buku-dapil_ upload-resize.pdf
on their quarterly recess visit activities. The trainees commented that the new information on how to prepare their MPs to interact with the media, the ideal timing for a press release, and how to use social media to reach constituents, was especially useful.
(From left to right) Feri Risnawan, community member from Cihaur Kuning Village, Yahya Sacawiria, Member of Parliament and JABAT participant, and Yudha Ferdinal from the political corruption and law monitoring division of Garut Governance Watch (GGW) a CSO participating in the JABAT program, sign a written commitment to collaborate during the inauguration of Riung Warga in Garut, West Java. Riung Warga is a forum through which the community can gather their aspirations and convey them to policy makers. Through the Riung Warga, the community can build consensus on the pressing problems and conditions in their local area, elevate them to the public domain, and compel local authorities and elected representatives to address them.
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ProRep | Newsletter Vol.1 2014
New Perspectives on Policy Research,Think Tank Networks, and Corporate Social Responsibility To enrich Indonesian think tanks’ knowledge and
based research organizations, advocacy NGOs and other
perspectives, this January ProRep brought back to
entities concerned with public policy and using and/or
Indonesia Senior Policy Advisor Leonid Polishchuk, Ph.D.,
producing evidence-based analyses. The public launching
from the Washington, D.C.-based Urban Institute, who has
of the PRN will take place during the National Seminar
been providing ongoing support to ProRep’s policy research
and PRN Launching event planned for March 19, 2014, in
grantees in-person and remotely for the past year. During
Jakarta.
this visit Polishchuk worked with the Institute for Economic and Social Research, Faculty of Economics University of
Dr. Polishchuk also led a focus group discussion on
Indonesia (LPEM FE UI), Women Research Institute (WRI),
corporate social responsibility (CSR) on January 22. The
and Institute for Research and Empowerment (IRE) in the
discussion was attended by DPR legal drafters working
final phase of their policy research reports and briefs.
on a national CSR law, as well as by representatives from the private sector and civil society. Drawing on experience
Dr. Polishchuk also provided insight and direction on how
from several countries, Dr. Polishchuk presented general
to sustain the nascent Policy Research Network (PRN), and
principles which should be considered in developing CSR
groom the network to become the leading policy research
laws. This comparative presentation and the ensuing
community in Indonesia. “One of the important roles of
discussion among stakeholders and legal drafters should
PRN is to facilitate collaboration between think tanks to
contribute to the development of better, fairer legislation.
use the complementarity of their capacities,” said Leonid Polishchuk. Based on his experience developing think tank networks in Russia, he also noted that “convincing think tanks of benefits of collaboration and network membership takes time, perseverance, discussions, and attention to prospective members’ sensitivities and concerns.” With the current five founding members, the PRN plans to
“
Convincing think tanks of benefits of collaboration and network membership takes time, perseverance, discussions, and attention to prospective members’ sensitivities and concerns. Leonid Polishchuk.
engage more organizations to join the network: university-
Staff from Garut Governance Watch (GGW) based in Garut, West Java, consolidating findings and inputs from the community on the quality of public services. With the current five founding members, the PRN plans to engage more organizations to join the network: university-based research organizations, advocacy NGOs and other entities concerned with public policy and using and/or producing evidence-based analyses.
”
Photo by: © Institute for Research and Empowerment (IRE)
Irman Gusman, Chairperson of the Council of Representatives (DPD RI) and Krisdyatmiko, Director of Institute for Research and Empowerment (IRE) shake hands after the think tank presented their findings on DPD member-constituent relations. A public seminar such as this one conducted by IRE is an effective way for think tanks to strategically engage targeted stakeholders and disseminate research findings and recommendations to the public.
Research Institutes Maximize the Impact of their Policy Research Think tanks are key players in the public policy-making process. Whether affiliated with the government, a university, or independent, these centers of research work to put knowledge in the hands of policy actors – the decision makers, CSOs and the general public – for the development of sound, evidenced-based public policies.
Institute for Research and Empowerment (IRE) Promotes Substantive Representation by DPD To escalate the influence of their research and reach a wide audience, Key findings and recommendations from IRE’s comprehensive research paper on the role of the upper chamber of the Indonesian parliament, the DPD, and its contribution to the quality of political representation in the country was presented in TEMPO Magazine in February 2014. IRE’s study found that to make full use of the potential of a bicameral system and to prevent its capture by vested interests, complementary activities are required to improve knowledge and awareness of the role of DPD at the grassroots, to
facilitate communication between DPD members and their constituencies, and to enhance the transparency and accountability of DPD to the society. The Institute for Research and Empowerment (IRE) Yogyakarta is an independent, non-partisan and nonprofit organization, based in an academic community in Yogyakarta. It focuses on developing and deepening democracy through enhancing ideas, critical attitudes and tactical actions of civil, political and economic society and the state. The electronic version of the brief is accessible here: http://www.ireyogya.org/upload/2f420e3d3f22f099e7f3b048a300806c. pdf
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ProRep | Newsletter Vol.1 2014
Elevating Women’s Voices – Women Research Institute Makes Policy Recommendations for the Bill on Gender Equality and Equity It has been five years since the quota has been in place
WRI and their network of women’s organizations are clear
requiring that 30 percent of the nomination lists for
on their policy recommendations – they request that the
elections to the DPR be reserved for women candidates.
DPR discuss this bill openly so that the public and CSOs
Currently around 18 percent, or 101 out of 560 parliament
are given a chance to opine and monitor this process and
members, are women. Despite the increase in the number
that the Caucus of Women DPR Members play a role as
of women representatives, many of the interests and
mediator. They also recommend that the DPR’s budgeting
needs of Indonesian women remain a secondary priority,
function should include a monitoring and evaluation
and are easily overlooked. With the law on gender
mechanism for the planning and implementation of
equality and equity currently under consideration, there is
the state budget to ensure gender responsiveness as
an opportunity to address this issue.
stipulated in the bill.
ProRep is supporting the Women Research Institute
DPR Member Sumarjati Arjoso spoke at the seminar and
(WRI) to conduct research to identify factors that
shared several obstacles in achieving gender equality
hinder women’s political representation in parliament
and equity in politics, including how the low number of
and provide policy recommendations aimed at
female members influences the outcome of votes, and
improving conditions for Indonesian women. Stronger
how a greater commitment is needed from both voters
representation for women can translate into their being
and legislative candidates on the importance of gender
in a better position to influence the policy-making
perspective and women’s roles in decision-making. The
process, including the allocation of state resources to
time for this awareness is now – as in the upcoming
adequately fund programs to improve the lives of
general elections around two thousand Indonesian
both men and women.
women will compete for seats in parliament, in which 56.4 percent of the women candidates come from
On January 16, 2014 in Jakarta, WRI held a public
the private sector.2
seminar drawing a crowd of 144 participants to learn the findings from their research. The seminar presented key
“This (draft law) is an investment and a meaningful
recommendations for parliament to strengthen the draft
breakthrough for pro-women policy reform in Indonesia.
of the gender equality and equity bill which is part of
The law will unlock access to political space for women
the 2014 National Legislative Agenda (Prolegnas) and is
and provide room for them to actively participate in
currently being prepared by the DPR’s Commission VIII on
the national decision-making process,” stated Edriana
religious and social affairs and women’s empowerment.
Noerdin, the Executive Director of WRI.
Results from WRI’s survey of 1200 respondents in 33
For USAID/ProRep, strengthening gender equality in
provinces throughout Indonesia revealed that 67 percent
Indonesia also means coordination and partnership
of respondents did not know or understand what is
across sectors at different levels. These include civil
being proposed under the draft bill. The majority of
society organizations, think tanks like WRI, members of
respondents (both male and female) are in favor of equal
parliament, and other policy makers who share the same
opportunities for men and women and felt that laws and
concern of closing the gender gap in Indonesia.
regulations should be in place to facilitate this. The issues of maternal and child health and sexual abuse faced by
WRI conducts research in support of increasing women’s
women were among the top two issues respondents felt
access to resources and decision-making, to enhance the
were most critical to address at a policy level (40 percent
representation of women in decision-making institutions,
and 15 percent respectively). An important finding of the
and to empower women’s representatives to influence the
paper is that government decentralization in Indonesia
decision-making processes.
might have adversely affected gender equality, as the commitment of local governments to gender issues could be significantly weaker than at the national level.
2
www.asiafoundation.org
The policy brief developed by Women Research Institute (WRI) is available for download here: http://wri.or.id/attachments/ article/372Policy%20Brief%202014_WRI_KKG_English-small%20size. pdf.
Women traders sell their crops at a traditional market in Brebes. WRI’s research found that many local governments neglect gender issues. Since the regional autonomy reform in 1999, experts have found that 342 policies discriminate against women, including 35 policies that restrict women’s activities outside the home at night which reduce women’s rights to mobility and employment options. (Source: National Commission for Women. http://www.komnasperempuan.or.id/2013/08/ siaran-pers-komnas-perempuan-kebijakan-diskriminatif-yang-bertentangan-dengan-konstitusi/)
What’s Coming in March ? • Grantee Workshops - Participatory Assessment and Development of Organizational Capacity and Strategy (PADOCS). Planned for March 18-22 in Garut, West Java for Garut Governance Watch (GGW), and March 27-31 in Surabaya, East Java for Cakrawala Timur. The PADOCS is a workshop combining strategic planning and the self-assessment of competence (SAC) methodologies. • KPPOD Focus Group Discussion. Through this FGD, KPPOD (Committee Monitoring the Implementation of Regional Autonomy – Komite Pemantauan Pelaksanaan Otonomi Daerah) is facilitating CSOs to convey to policy makers their ideas related to the revision of the Bills on Local Government (RUU Pemda) and Local Direct Election. The event is on March 6, 2014 in Jakarta and will be followed by a press conference in the fourth week of March. • Policy Research Network Launching Event. The Policy Research Network (PRN), an alliance of Indonesian research institutions, will hold a seminar on the “Election of MPs in Indonesia: from the economic and political perspective” in Jakarta on March 19, 2014. Through the event, the PRN seeks to expand its membership, while sharing relevant research findings and discussing issues related to the selection of candidates. • Workshop on effective writing for policy research. This workshop, planned for March 25-27 in Jakarta, is designed to help researchers communicate complex academic subject matter in a way that is accessible and relevant to policymakers, businesses, CSOs, media and the general public.
Program Representasi (ProRep) is a four to five year project on democracy and governance from 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 info@prorep.or.id. Program Representasi (ProRep) Gedung BRI II, Suite 2806 Jl. Jend. Sudirman No. 44 – 46 Jakarta 10210, Indonesia
P: +62 (0) 21 5785 3021 F: +62 (0) 21 5785 3016 info@prorep.or.id www.prorep.or.id