USAID IUWASH PLUS hosted an online kickoff meeting for the implementation of the Minimum Service Standards (MSS) on water supply and domestic wastewater management on July 22, 2021. A total of 45 people, which included the Director of the Synchronization of Local Government Affairs II (SUPD II) of the Ministry of Home Affairs, Mr. Iwan Kurniawan, the Deputy Chief of Party of USAID IUWASH PLUS, Mrs. Alifah Lestari, as well as the representatives from Barru district, Magelang city, and Bogor city governments, attended this whole-day meeting.
The MSS provides minimum acceptable standards for local governments’ performance in delivering public services. Although meeting the requirements of MSS is mandatory for local governments, many of them still have a lot of homework to do to achieve the standards.
USAID IUWASH PLUS and the SUPD II Directorate of MOHA are assisting the three local governments—Barru district, Magelang city, and Bogor city, to pilot the implementation of the MSS on water supply and wastewater.
Objectives of the meeting were to introduce the USAID IUWASH PLUS consultant that will work with the MSS teams in Barru district, Magelang city, and Bogor city, identify the main stakeholders in the local governments, and to discuss the work plan effective through November 2021.
Emphasizing the potential impact of the pilot program, the Director of the Synchronization of Local Government Affairs II (SUPD II) of the Ministry of Home Affairs, Mr. Iwan Kurniawan, said, “I hope that the pilot implementation of MSS in 3 districts/cities will set an example for other districts/cities in Indonesia.”
In the meeting, the governments of Barru district, Magelang city, and Bogor city also welcomed the MSS pilot and expressed their commitment to carrying out this program.
Following the meeting, USAID IUWASH PLUS and representatives from the SUPD II Directorate agreed to meet Bogor city government to discuss data collection format.USAID IUWASH PLUS and the SUPD II Directorate will also meet Barru district government and Magelang city government to further discuss the planning document.
