Cowater International Inc.

Published purpose

Through the BASICS project, Canadian and Indonesian experts assist district and city officials in improving their abilities and systems to deliver services. In 1999, after 30 years of centralized authoritarian rule, Indonesia undertook its most ambitious governance reform:decentralization. Within 2 years, district and city governments and legislatures took on new responsibilities. These include providing water, sanitation, health, and education services. In most cases, local government and elected officials do not have sufficient knowledge or skills to plan, budget for, and deliver these services. At the same time, the project helps officials at the provincial and national levels to more competently guide, support, and supervise district and city governments. In addition, it develops the abilities of some non-government organizations, enabling them to provide input to government planning and budgeting processes (as required by law) and to provide technical services to local governments.