The purpose of our visit was (1) to increase people?s understanding of SMERU?s activities and to introduce a new NGO Partnership Program which seeks to promote NGO monitoring of SSN programs; (2) to establish contact with the local NGOs and learn about their particular activities and interests; (3) to investigate the availability of the SSN 1998 - 1999 program and budget Information Folder in each Level II Bappeda office and to promote the use of these folders as an information resource for both NGOs and local government; and (4) to find out more about the key problems during the implementation of the SSN program in these areas.

During our discussions with NGOs, SMERU learned that several have already been involved as local consultants for SSN monitoring and related poverty alleviation programs, while others have been conducting their own independent SSN monitoring. Many other NGOs indicated keen interest in undertaking such activities. Some of them suggested establishing a consortium, so that they can conduct monitoring together, avoiding competition among the NGOs when applying for funding.

The SMERU team discovered that the SSN Information Folders were complete and had been disseminated to the designated NGOs in 4 of the 6 districts we visited. However, this had not yet occurred in Kotamadya Palu and Kabupaten Donggala in Central Sulawesi.

Bappeda officials stated their readiness to collaborate with any organizations that wished to become involved in SSN monitoring. However, questions were raised by some NGOs about how to prevent any misunderstanding on the part of local government officials regarding NGO monitoring. SMERU has subsequently sent to several NGOs a copy of a letter from BAPPENAS endorsing independent NGO monitoring, and clarifying the legality of such activities.

SMERU would like to thank all those NGO staff members for their assistance and sincere welcome during our visit to Sulawesi. We hope to continue our collaboration and networking with you in the future. n HS

Tujuan kunjungan ini adalah: (1) meningkatkan pemahaman tentang kegiatan SMERU, terutama mengenai ?NGO Partnership? untuk memperkenalkan pemantauan program JPS oleh LSM; (2) membangun komunikasi dengan LSM, mempelajari minat khusus dan kegiatan mereka; (3) memeriksa kelengkapan dan ketersediaan Folder Informasi JPS di Bappeda Tk II, dan menerangkan kegunaan folder tersebut sebagai sumber informasi bagi LSM dan pemerintah daerah; dan (4) agar mengetahui masalah-masalah utama yang ditemui selama pelaksanaan program JPS di daerah yang dikunjungi.

Dari diskusi bersama rekan-rekan LSM diketahui bahwa beberapa LSM daerah sudah terlibat sebagai konsultan untuk memantau program JPS dan program lain yang berkaitan dengan upaya pengangkatan kemiskinan, sementara yang lain telah melakukan kegiatan pemantauan swadaya. Banyak LSM sangat berminat turut melakukan kegiatan pemantauan program JPS. Beberapa dari mereka ingin membentuk suatu konsorsium agar dapat bersama-sama melakukan pemantauan, disamping dapat mencegah ?persaingan yang tidak perlu? antar LSM dalam pengajuan dana.

Tim SMERU juga menemukan bahwa Folder Informasi JPS sudah lengkap dan disebarkan kepada LSM yang ditunjuk di 4 dari 6 kabupaten/kotamadya yang dikunjungi, kecuali di Kotamadya Palu dan Kabupaten Donggala di Sulawesi Selatan. Pejabat Bappeda menyatakan kepada SMERU bahwa mereka siap bekerjasama dengan organisasi yang ingin terlibat dalam pemantauan JPS.

Dalam diskusi dengan LSM muncul pertanyaan mengenai cara mencegah timbulnya kesalah-pahaman dari pihak pemerintah mengenai kegiatan pemantauan oleh LSM. SMERU kemudian mengirimkan copy surat BAPPENAS yang menyatakan dukungan BAPPENAS kepada LSM yang melakukan pemantauan independen dan menjelaskan mengenai keabsahan kegiatan tersebut.

SMERU mengucapkan terima kasih atas bantuan dan penerimaan rekan-rekan LSM ketika SMERU berkunjung ke Sulawesi. Semoga kerjasama dan jaringan kerja kita dapat terus kita bina. n HS