Message-ID: <mailto:199506061636.JAA08737@cdp.igc.apc.org> Date: Tue, 6 Jun 1995 09:36:23 -0700 From: Tom Gray <mailto:tgray@IGC.APC.ORG> Subject: Indonesia sends advisers to Africa To: Multiple recipients of list DEVEL-L
/* Written 4:31 AM May 2, 1995 by theearthtime in igc:earthtimes */ Title: Indonesia sends advisers to Africa By Daniel J. Shepard Earth Times News Service
HARARE, Zimbabwe--In an effort to demonstrate its commitment to technical cooperation among developing countries, Indonesia dispatched a team of experts who attended the Harare meeting to visit three other African countries.
Stating that "We must not lose the momentum of the past two year," Indonesian State Minister of Population Haryono Suyono announced that a delegation consisting of Indonesian and United Nation Population fund personnel would visit Ghana, Tanzania and Malawi in an effort to provide those countries with the benefits of its experience.
According to Pudjo Rahardjo, Director of the International Population and Family Planning Training Centre in Indonesia, the purpose of the initial visit would be to "assess exactly what it is that we can contribute." He said that Indonesia, along with the country and Unfpa, would draw up a plan of action, and after such approval, a partnership would commence. Pudjo said that over 2,180 people from 83 countries have come to Indonesia to take a first hand look at the program there.
The visiting team, he said, will meet with people from the embassies, with Unfpa personnel, and will then visit villages to see "what the latent needs of the people are." He made it clear that the delegation would not just meet with policy makers.
He said that people from the target countries will be invited to visit Indonesia for a consultancy, to help them design training programs and marketing techniques. But he said, programs have to be adapted for specific communities. "In Indonesia, there are 300 ethnic groups, so we have our own needs and imperatives. You cannot just generalize."
Indonesia started the exchange program in 1987 when it started to provide technical assistance. The idea, he said, was brought back from Bangladesh. He said that Indonesia itself had gained knowledge from various countries for specific purposes. "For information on injectibles, we went to Thailand. We went to Taiwan for new contraceptives. We went to China to learn how to overcome social barriers. And for marketing, we learned from Mexico and Colombia."
Pudjo said the feedback they received was "very positive and encouraging."
He said that funding must still come from donor countries for the exchanges. "But the main thing," he said, " is that we have experience, we have a wealth of expertise--good and hard--that we can share. The object is sharing on an equal basis."
For Malawi, which sent a delegation to the meeting as observers, the visit from the Indonesians was eagerly awaited. Thouse O'Dala, from Malawi's Ministry of Health and Population, said the visit is "one of the direct benefits of South-South cooperation. They will assess what areas than can help." He said that for Malawi, which is one of the most densely inhabited countries, "the political will is actually there now." But he said the country requires expertise and additional resources. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Earth Times says:
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