USAID IUWASH PLUS supported Benteng Mikro Indonesia Sharia Cooperative (Kopsyah BMI) in releasing its book on WASH microfinance in ceremony held online and offline in Jakarta on September 23, 2021. This event was then followed with an interactive discussion on WASH microfinance for cooperatives.
The activity was opened with remarks from the Deputy Mission Director of USAID Indonesia, Mr. William Slater, and the Director of Housing and Settlements of the Ministry of National Development Planning/Bappenas, Ms. Tri Dewi Virgiyanti.
Also participating in the activity were the Deputy of Cooperatives of the Ministry of Cooperatives and SMEs, Mr. Ahmad Zabadi; the Head of Sub-Directorate of the Local Government/Regional-Owned Enterprises Investments of the Ministry of Finance, Mr. Iman Widhiyanto; the President Director of Kopsyah BMI, Mr. Kamaruddin Batubara; the COR of USAID IUWASH PLUS, Ms. Trigeany Linggoatmodjo; the ACOR for USAID IUWASH PLUS, Ms. Endah Shofiani; the Chief of Party of USAID IUWASH PLUS, Mr. William Parente, and the representatives from cooperatives, regional development planning agencies, the cooperative offices from USAID IUWASH PLUS’ partnering and non-partnering areas.
All stakeholders welcomed the launch of the WASH microfinance book that was developed by Kopsyah BMI that contains the cooperative’s experiences and lessons learned in providing the micro loan.
Mr. William Slater hopes, “The books will become a practical guideline for many other cooperatives to replicate the success of the Kopsyah BMI across Indonesia.”
To reiterate Mr. Slater’s hopes, Ms. Tri Dewi Virgiyanti said, “I am inviting all stakeholders to continue their commitment to developing and expanding water and sanitation microfinance.”
During the interactive discussion session, Ms. Tri Dewi Virgiyanti shared a potential market of 30 trillion rupiahs for WASH microcredit to contribute to the achievement of the 2020–2024 Medium-Term National Development Plan (RPJMN).
With this huge potential, Mr. Iman Widhiyanto mentioned that the Ministry of Finance is developing a specific financing facility that will be utilized exclusively for WASH microcredit.
Concluding the event, Mr. Ahmad Zabadi said that with this financing facility, cooperatives could participate more actively and accelerate to achieve the target stated in the 2020–2024 RPJMN.
Since 2014, Kopsyah BMI has been implementing water and sanitation credit to help low income communities to access better water and sanitation access. Until 2021, Kopsyah BMI has disbursed total 80.6 billion rupiahs, which includes 55.3 billion rupiahs for water and 25.3 billion rupiahs for sanitation.
Kopsyah BMI is among microfinance institutions that have been partnering with USAID IUWASH PLUS. Through September 2021, USAID IUWASH PLUS has supported 18 microfinance institutions in 11 districts/cities and one special area (DKI Jakarta) to provide WASH microcredits for low income families.
