On January 18, 2022, USAID IUWASH PLUS and USAID-SECO partnership conducted a joint project closing celebration. This event was held both in person in Jakarta and online, as well as broadcast on USAID IUWASH PLUS YouTube™ account (@airsanitasi).
Attending the event in person were the Director of Housing and Settlement of Ministry of National Development Planning/Bappenas, Mrs. Tri Dewi Virgiyanti; USAID Indonesia Mission Director, Mr. Jeffery Cohen; Deputy Head of Economic Cooperation and Development of SECO Indonesia, Ms. Andrea Zbinden; representatives from USAID Indonesia, SECO, and the Project’s partnering ministries.
In their remarks, Mr. Cohen and Ms. Zbinden conveyed their high appreciation and enormous gratitude to the strong collaboration of USAID IUWASH PLUS and USAID-SECO partnership, national and local governments, service providers, private sector, and communities in delivering improved water service and safely managed sanitation to the communities, particularly to the poor and vulnerable urban communities.
Mr. Cohen highlighted that the U.S. Government will continue its partnership with the Government of Indonesia in water, sanitation, and climate change sectors.
Similarly, Ms. Zbinden said that Switzerland will continue supporting Indonesia to help achieve the 2020-2024 National Medium Term Development Plan (RPJMN), 100% access to water including 15% access to safely managed water by strengthening water utilities through technical assistance and capacity building.
Mrs. Tri Dewi Virgiyanti said that the partnership among USAID IUWASH PLUS, ministries, and local governments strengthens institutions, community demand, regulation, and finance aspects. In addition to the infrastructure, these aspects are important in water and sanitation development. Further, she hopes the ministries, national and local governments will sustain the initiatives and success that they have implemented together with USAID IUWASH PLUS and the USAID-SECO Partnership.
To conclude the event, Mr. Brian Duzsa from USAID Indonesia’s Environment Office and Ms. Andrea Zbinden symbolically handed program accomplishments achieved with assistance from USAID IUWASH PLUS and USAID-SECO Partnership to the program counterpart ministries.
