PRESS RELEASE

The Spanish Government contributes funds through UNDP in support to Indonesia’s 2009 Elections and DPD RI

Jakarta, 6 March 2009. The Government of Spain through the Spanish Agency for International Development (AECID) announced today a contribution through UNDP for the Multi Donor Programme – Support to Indonesia’s Democratic Elections (Elections MDP) and the Parliamentary Reform Initiative and DPD Empowerment – Support to the Indonesian House of Regional Representatives (PRIDE) at a ceremony hosted by Bappenas (National Development Planning Agency) in Jakarta. The ceremony was attended by H.E. Aurora Bernaldez Dicenta, Ambassador of Spain to Indonesia and El-Mostafa Benlamlih, UN Resident Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative to Indonesia.

H.E. Aurora Bernaldez Dicenta, Ambassador of Spain to Indonesia stated that the Government of Spain is contributing € 1,250,000 EUROS (around 1.8million USD) to support Indonesia’s democratic elections and Parliamentary empowerment through UNDP. The programme supporting Indonesia’s democratic elections will receive   €750,000 while the Parliamentary empowerment program will receive € 500,000. She also underlined the ambitious program of democratic reforms in Spain in the 70’s among them a significant leap forwards from a centralised Administration to a profound decentralisation. She added that the experience had been healthy for the whole nation and that she wished Indonesia similar good results.

El-Mostafa Benlamlih, UN Resident Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative said, “I would like to express my gratitude to the Embassy of the Kingdom of Spain to Indonesia, which through the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID) has committed the contribution.” He also added that UNDP is proud to be Indonesia’s trusted partner in various strategic programmes, specifically addressing the challenges facing the 2009 elections and DPD empowerment. “I hope that this partnership between UNDP and the Government of Indonesia and its development partners will continue to assist Indonesia in meeting its development goals.”

Bambang Sutedjo, Deputy to the Minister for Politics, Legal, Defense and Security, State Ministry of National Development Planning/National Development Planning Agency (Bappenas) expressed his sincere gratitude to the Government of Spain who is willing to support Indonesia to ensure the success of the Indonesia’s democratic elections. “My gratitude also goes to UNDP who constantly support us in coordinating the international supports. We hope other donor countries will follow the Government of Spain’s steps to support the 2009 Elections,” he added.

Adam Bachtiar, the Head of Proceeding Bureau, Secretariat General DPD RI, represented Siti Nurbaya Bakar, the Secretary General DPD RI in the ceremony.

A sum of € 750,000 is granted to Elections MDP, a three-year programme implemented by the Government of Indonesia with support from UNDP to provide technical assistance for Indonesia’s democratic elections. It focuses on strengthening the institutional capacities of the General Elections Commission of Indonesia (KPU) and Electoral Supervisory Body (BAWASLU), their Secretariats and regional offices; promoting broad-based voters’ participation; and facilitating the government’s coordination of international support for the elections to achieve funding harmonization based on Paris Declaration of Aid Effectiveness principles. Bappenas is the implementing agency of the Elections MDP.

The Government of Spain contributes worth € 500,000 to the Parliamentary Reform Initiative and DPD Empowerment – Support to the Indonesian House of Regional Representatives (PRIDE), a four-year programme providing technical assistance to the Indonesian House of Regional Representatives through its Secretariat General. The programme focuses on improving institutional accountability, public knowledge and accessibility to Indonesian parliamentary institution, management of regional issues as well as enhancing women’s participation in politics and parliament.

For more information, please contact:

• Riza Iskandar, Communications Officer Elections MDP, 08551012671, riza.iskandar@undp.org