USAID and the Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs Announce 2004 Election Assistance Program

July 15, 2003

In a ceremony today at the offices of the Ministry of Finance, visiting U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Assistant Administrator for the Bureau for Asia and the Near East, Ambassador Wendy J. Chamberlin, and new USAID Indonesia Mission Director, William M. Frej, signed a Memorandum of Understanding for elections assistance with the head of the 2004 Elections Steering Committee, Deputy Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs, Dr. Komara Djaya. The USAID program will meet critical election administration, voter education, and election monitoring priority needs identified by the Indonesian Government.

2004 will be a momentous year for Indonesia due to the upcoming landmark elections. The nationwide legislative, and first ever direct Presidential, elections will be important steps in the country’s continuing democratic transition. The U.S. Government is committed to supporting Indonesia’s efforts to carry out these important events, working in close collaboration with key Government institutions, Indonesian civil society organizations, and other donors such as the United Nations Development Program.

The U.S. Government will provide $18 million in elections assistance this year, and anticipates up to $6 million in additional funding next year. Activities under this program will further strengthen electoral processes and support immediate post-election democratic and political reform. Funding will be provided directly by USAID to U.S.-based and Indonesian non-governmental organizations, and other entities working in furtherance of democratic elections.

As part of the program, USAID recently awarded a $1.7 million grant to the US-based media organization, Internews, and a $12.3 million grant to the Consortium for Elections and Political Process Strengthening (CEPPS) comprised of three US democracy promotion organizations who have worked in Indonesia for several years: the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES), the International Republican Institute (IRI), and the National Democratic Institute for International Affairs (NDI).

This election assistance is one component of the overall U.S. Government foreign assistance program in Indonesia. Through USAID, the United States provides approximately $130 million in assistance to Indonesia each year for programs to support Indonesia’s democratic transition, continued economic and energy sector reforms, decentralization, strengthened natural resource management, and an improved health sector, including efforts to combat HIV/AIDS. USAID also provides significant humanitarian assistance for internally displaced persons and victims of natural disasters.

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