News

Newsletter – Column H

In Search of Project Sustainability - An overview of a Sustainability Workshop organised by the Indonesia Australia Specialised Training Project Phase III (I ASTP III) in Jakarta in January 2005

A t the end of 2008 the I ASTP model of training delivery and capacity building activities will have been operating in Indonesia for 13 years. This massive investment by the Australian Government in cooperation with the Government of Indonesia seeks to improve the ability of specific Government of Indonesia agencies to plan and enhance their human resource development priorities. Essentially, it anticipates that the capacity of the partner agencies to plan and develop their own personnel and structures in the future will be strengthened and thereby the benefits of I ASTP be sustainable.

As an AusAID funded project, I ASTP III is responsible for the transfer of specialised knowledge and the development of specialised skills to target beneficiaries in both the public and private sectors. Beneficiaries include mid-career, middle level professionals who have the capacity to undertake short term training and who will benefit individually and contribute to the performance of their employing agencies.

AusAID (2005) defines the word ‘sustainability’ as ‘the ability of a development activity to deliver substantial benefits for an extended period of time after financial, managerial and technical assistance from a donor finishes’. Among others, recognised factors that affect sustainability include government policies in the country in which the activity is being implemented, management skills of the organisation and local participation in the activity. With this in mind, I ASTP III hosted a sustainability workshop on 17 and 18 January 2005 in Jakarta. Twenty six senior level participants attended from various Indonesian and Australian government agencies and organisations, including representatives from Setneg (the Indonesian State Secretariat), Aus AID, B APPEN AS (the National Development Planning Board) and K ADIN (the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce) and representatives from the project-focus eastern provinces. The Workshop provided an opportunity for senior officers from central and provincial organisations to exchange information and views.

The Sustainability Workshop was organised in order to involve relevant stakeholders from the outset in the development of a Sustainability Strategy and Matrix. The involvement of counterpart agencies was critical in order to enable both the project and its stakeholders to reach an understanding of what sustainability means and together formulate appropriate tools that fit both Government of Australia and Government of Indonesia policy frameworks. The Workshop successfully engaged Indonesian stakeholders in examining issues related to sustaining the benefits of I ASTP after the project finishes. The Workshop provided a useful starting point for future discussions with all stakeholders about the future ‘ability of a development activity (I ASTP III) to deliver substantial benefits for an extended period of time after financial, managerial and technical assistance from a donor ( Aus AID) finishes’.

As reported by the Workshop facilitator, this was one of very few such workshops undertaken within AusAID-funded projects, possibly the first held in Indonesia. All project stakeholders, including AusAID, Setneg, the Indonesian coordinating and implementing agencies, Hassall and Associates International as the Australian Managing Contractor (AMC) and the beneficiaries of specialised training courses, are dedicated to ensuring sustainability of benefits flowing from the project.

Workshop Outcomes

It was suggested that the most significant and feasible sustainable benefits coming out of the project for the Government of Indonesia focus around:

A ccess to the alumni of training programs; the Government of Indonesia needs to recognise this investment within and across organisations and provinces, and more strategically utilise the human resource that has been developed.

The capacity of middle level managers to introduce and manage change that is gained and improved through their involvement in specialised and capacity building trainings under the I ASTP. Their positive influence will expand especially when they make progress to the senior echelon levels.

The capacity of the mentors and training units (Diklats) to assist organisations introduce, maintain and/or adapt the IASTP training model and support the specialised training priorities of organisations and provinces.

The analysis and strategies identified as the results of the workshop will be reviewed and updated through the Annual Plan process in recognition of improved and changing views of stakeholders throughout the life of the project.

The Sustainability Workshop establishes an important base for the I ASTP team to work together with the Government of Indonesia to set a strategic foundation that enables the Government of Indonesia continue all identified efforts and activities, even after the project is completed. Cooperation and a strong commitment from Hassall and Associates, AusAID and the Government of Indonesia as well as regular review of progress and impact will be required to achieve sustainability of project benefits. Ultimately, the sustainability of benefits of the project is dependent on the policy decision making process by the Government of Indonesia throughout and beyond the life of the project. The I ASTP III has mechanisms in place to facilitate the achievement of most sustainability objectives and is making targeted but high impact efforts to assist in the change process.

Sri Novelma (Rino)
Assistant Project Officer
IASTP III – Canberra Office

References:

AusAID. 2005. Definition. www.ausaid.gov.au/ngos/display.cfm?sectionref= 05554833162004 [cited 10 May 2005].

Rhodes, D. 2005. Activity Completion Report, the Sustainability Workshop Facilitator. Unpublished Report. Melbourne.

Return to News