Strategic planning of Women Empowerment

and Children Protection Agency,

Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam (NAD)

In September 2007, the Governor of Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam (NAD), Irwandi Yusuf, declared the Aceh Recovery Framework (AFR). The ARF is the medium-term strategic recovery framework of NAD for over the next four years (2008 – 2011). Gender is one of the main cross-cutting elements in the ARF.

According to Qanun No. 5/2007, Women Empowerment and Children Protection Agency (Badan Pemberdayaan Perempuan dan Perlindungan Anak or BP3A) of NAD has strategic functions both at coordinative and implementation level. The Agency is authorized to empower women through policy development, program management from planning, implementation, monitoring, evaluation and reporting. Since its enactment in 2007, the function and authority of the Agency has not been optimally in undertaken. It is due to the absence of the program plan.

In Augustus 6 – 8, 2008, REMDEC facilitated strategic planning to fill in the gap. The workshop was aimed to improve capacity of Women Empowerment Agency especially in developing strategic plan and program planning design. The workshop was successful in the formulation of the Badan PP’s strategic role and social mandate, vision and mission, SWOT analyses, and strategic issues to be addressed. The program was supported by UNORC and facilitated by two of REMDEC’s consultants Mr. Mahmudi and Ms. Sri Kusyuniati.

Evaluation of the Child Disaster Awareness for School

and Communities (CDASC) project

Starting from June to September 2008, REMDEC conducted evaluation on Child Disaster Awareness for School and Communities (CDASC) project of Muhammadiyah Disaster Management Centre (MDMC). The CDASC was a two years project (June 2006 – 2008) supported by the AusAID.

The CDASC project has three objectives: (1) Capacity building of Muhammadiyah elements: teachers, Muhammadiyah Youth Organization (MAYO) and board of Muhammadiyah at local level, and local organization towards school based disaster risk reduction management in four high risk communities: Padang, Rejang Lebong, Bantul, and Garut; (2) Develop and distribute disaster awareness campaign materials through several media; (3) Use Community Based Disaster Risk Management/CBDRM approach to build people’s awareness starting with children.

The evaluation was carried out trough participatory method and techniques to measure project achievements and indicative impact in particularly in the sustainable aspect. The evaluation team was consisted of six consultants with various expertise, namely: Roem Topatimasang (team leader: Popular education specialist); Ahmad Mahmudi (Disaster management); Wiladi Budiharga (Gender and program development); Roy Tjiong (Advocacy and public health); Wilarsa Budiharga (Organizational and resource mobilization); Fauzi Abdullah (Community organizing).

Pre-Assessment on Governance’s component in the UNJP - United Nation’s Joint Program Plan in Belu District,

East Nusa Tenggara.

In November 2007, REMDEC in collaboration with UNDP conducted a pre-assessment mission to develop a governance component for the UNJP - United Nation’s Joint Program Plan in Belu District. This mission was a rapid assessment of the needs and opportunities on governance related areas in Belu, including but not limited to DPRD strengthening; district level planning and budgeting; community-based participatory development planning; bureaucracy reform; access to justice (formal and informal); legal institution strengthening; human rights; economic development strategy. The Pre-Assessment team was consisted of two persons, namely Mr. Wilarsa Budiharga, as the leader of the team-is a consultant from the REMDEC’s Pools of Consultants and Mr. Leo Simanjutak, Program Manager, Decentralization Support Facilities-Governance Unit, UNDP-Jakarta.