On August 28, 2018, USAID IUWASH PLUS in collaboration with Bappenas and West Java Bappeda conducted a workshop to improve the capacity of Working Groups for Housing, Settlement, Water, and Sanitation (Pokja PPAS/AMPL) from 27 districts/cities in West Java in strengthening coordination and communication among the working group members from various Government Working Units (OPD), and other organizations, such as Bappenas and Ministry of Home Affairs.
During the workshop, the Director of Development of Urban, Housing, and Settlement Areas of Bappenas, Tri Dewi Virgiyanti said that human resources improvement in the water supply and sanitation sector is important to increase water and sanitation quality. Bad water and sanitation quality will disrupt nutrition absorption and contribute to stunting. Further, Virgiyanti reminded the local government to use the water and sanitation budget at their best. “Water and sanitation budget availability is not an issue because the budget absorption is still 70%. Thus, local governments should be able to use the budget well,” she said.
The event also allowed the participants to provide Bappenas with inputs to the National Medium Term Plan 2020–2024, such as the needs for the national government to assist the local governments in developing and implementing regulations.
After the workshop, on August 29, 2018, USAID IUWASH PLUS held a discussion with the participants from five USAID IUWASH PLUS assisted areas in West Java, namely Bogor, Depok and Bekasi cities, and Bogor and Karawang districts to discuss their water and sanitation five-year plans (2016-2021).
The discussion highlighted achievements, targets, and issues related to water supply and sanitation in the respective district/city, and discussion on safe water and safely-managed sanitation concept according to Sustainable Development Goals 2030, such as including water quality in the water program, instead of focusing on water access only.
Following these workshop and discussion, USAID IUWASH PLUS will support the dissemination of safe water and safely-managed sanitation concept, and review the district/city’s planning documents to align the water and sanitation target, strategy and programs with the safe water and safely-managed sanitation concept.
