EDUCATION

PARTNERSHIPS FOR ENHANCED ENGAGEMENT in research (peer):

USAID/Indonesia is partnering with USAID’s Office of Science & Technology in Washington to support collaborations in scientific research under the Partnerships for Enhanced Engagement in Research (PEER) program. PEER is a joint effort between USAID and the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF). NSF makes major investments each year that fund U.S. scientists to conduct international research, but NSF can only fund the U.S. side of international collaborations. Through PEER, USAID will support scientists in developing countries to engage in research projects with NSF-funded researchers. There are currently many on-going NSF projects in Indonesia and many other NSF-funded scientists working on topics of relevance to Indonesia. Our first round of PEER awards were announced in May 2012.

The teacher training program for primary school teachers:

introduces teachers to active learning approaches for mathematics and science teaching and equips them with fundamental skills to implement the courses. The course includes principles of mathematics/science teaching, theories, teaching strategies, and assessment as well as engaging ICT tools in optimizing the learning process and the production and use of low-cost materials in teaching learning.

The Intel Teach Getting Started program

initiated a $2 million public-private alliance between USAID implementing partners and Intel Corporation. The training program supports primary and junior high school teachers with little or no previous experience using information technology by providing them a foundation course and introduction to computer hardware, software tools and student centered approaches to learning.

DALI for Teachers:

builds on Intel Teach, providing teachers with a more in-depth opportunity to learn about the integration of ICTs into the active learning classroom. It engages teachers in a series of nine training modules in which computers, digital and video cameras, and software applications are embedded into the active learning approach.

Distance Education program:

a USAID primary education program using computer technology to enhance knowledge and skills of the three main “actors” in the distance education system – those who design distance-based courses (designers), those who teach them (instructors), and those who work with teachers to implement these new skills in their classrooms (site-based coaches). The Pilot program is expected to provide the Government of Indonesia with a sensible path forward as it seeks to maximize access to teacher in-service education opportunities though distance education without sacrificing to quality.

E-learning version of the Better Teaching and Learning:

At the junior high school level, USAID piloted an E-learning version of the Better Teaching and Learning modules. This digitized module is made available online for junior secondary school teachers to conduct self study through Online Distance Learning (ODL) and in an interactive version on CD Rom for those teachers who do not have access to internet.

HEALTH

Partnerships for enhanced engagement in research for Health (PEER-health):

USAID/Indonesia is supporting collaborations in scientific research under a new program called Partnerships for Enhanced Engagement in Research for Health (PEER-Health). PEER-Health is a joint effort between USAID and the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH). PEER-Health is a competitive grants program designed to catalyze collaborative research projects that address research-to-practice barriers while simultaneously building professional capacity and cross-sectoral linkages to work on challenging local health development issues. While this worldwide program will fund research opportunities in countries around the world, there is a commitment to fund research partnerships in Indonesia in particular. Additional funding has been added by USAID/Indonesia to support research in priority areas of child health and infectious diseases.

Infectious Diseases:

The USAID Health program in Indonesia encompasses a wide range of public health issues including issues related directly to science and technology. The potential for infectious disease incubation and virus re-assortment is high in Indonesia. Climate change, population density, poverty, and limited services for animal and human health converge to create dangerous possibilities, particularly in Pandemic Influenza and Tuberculosis.

Labs for Tuberculosis:

An excellent example of significant USAID contribution is the strengthening of five Indonesian Labs for Tuberculosis over the last eight years. In 2008-9, three of these reference laboratories achieved External Quality Assurance status after successfully completing panel testing/certified for culture and DST by the World Health Organization. This achievement is critical to the management of mostly and extremely drug resistant (M/X/DR) TB cases throughout Indonesia which currently ranks third of the high burden TB countries and is included in the list of 22 high burden countries for MDR TB. Additional labs are now being included in our 2010 planning, including the Papua provincial lab which shows great promise.

International Livestock Research Institute:

An operational research project through the ILRI was implemented to identify the most effective Avian Influenza control measures in poultry. ILRI collaborated with the GOI to measure the epidemiological impact of various control measures through mass vaccination and to examine control measures throughout Indonesia. MOA utilized the evidence-based results to develop a National AI vaccination policy.

Animal Influenza:

In partnership with the GOI, USAID supports the World Organization for Animal Health project to characterize animal influenza viruses in order to produce new and improved poultry vaccines. In 2009, the USDA developed a new reverse genetic vaccine for poultry in Indonesia utilizing USAID information. The vaccine is now being registered in Indonesia.

ENVIRONMENT

Climate Change and Mitigation:

A key focus the mission is climate change mitigation and adaptation. Forest degradation is the largest source of emissions and the target for immediate emission reductions. Greater scientific understanding of carbon baselines and emissions is required, as Indonesia is responsible for approximately 60 percent of global emissions from peat decomposition. The science of decomposition of tropical peat is not well known, nor are the technologies for rehabilitating degraded peat lands well developed. The mission’s forestry program will provide assistance for fieldwork to support reduction of forestry emissions.

Orangutan Conservation:

In the forest sector under the Orangutan Conservations Services Program, USAID has been working to conduct science-based studies to determine priority sites and approaches to conserve critical habitat for orangutans. These studies have also discovered two new populations for orangutans, one in Sumatra and one in Kalimantan.

Marine Biodiversity Conservation:

In collaboration with the six-country regional Coral Triangle Initiative, USAID is assisting the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries to strengthen its institutional capacities, improve policies, and implement strong programs for eco-system based fisheries management and conservation of critical marine eco-systems. Improving knowledge of coral reef ecosystems and how to conserve and manage these for sustaining fisheries productivity is a critical scientific need and also critical to Indonesia’s food security.

Water and Sanitation:

USAID is assisting 40 municipalities expand access to water and sanitation for 2 million persons with a focus on better serving the urban poor. The program has improved and extended safe water technologies as well as affordable sanitation technologies for urban poor. The continued search for low-cost effective methods of expanding access to these critical water and sanitation services is a focus of the new programs that is starting in 2010.

DEMOCRATIC GOVERNANCE

Transparency of Justice Sector Institutions:

USAID introduced a new, more user friendly software application and system to improve the functioning of the Attorney General’s Office. As a result, the AGO’s website now provides access to information for all citizens and also receives their complaints. The program also assisted the Supreme Court to establish an electronic database to manage complaints and launched it in nine provinces.

Mitigating Conflict through Social Networking:

In conflict-affected Central Sulawesi, USAID brought together Christian and Moslem youth in a talent competition called “Pomona Idol”. These young people, who otherwise never would have met each other, established a Facebook group on their own initiative to allow them to stay in touch when the USAID grant was complete.

New channel of Communication between the Local Government and Citizens:

USAID introduced the electronic Citizen Information Service (e-CIS), which uses internet and mobile phone technology to improve local government responsiveness. The system allows citizens to directly send their concerns, complaints and suggestions to the local government by SMS or by posting on the local government’s website. The system is up and running in a dozen districts.

Local Government Budget Analysis Software:

In Jepara, Central Java, USAID-support budget monitoring software is rapidly becoming an effective advocacy tool to strengthen civil society transparency and accountability campaigns. A local CSO network on budget advocacy conducted budget road shows to village government officers, religious schools, and university campuses. The campaign was so successful that the local legislature requested USAID for additional training in using the software to monitor local government performance.