Workshop on “Establishment of Local Government Forum in the Province of Nangroe Aceh Darussalam (NAD)”

Chairs of Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam Local Governments Communication Forum Council with  Canada/Aceh Local Government Assistance Program (CALGAP)

Representatives of local governments from 17 districts and municipalities in Aceh gathered at a founding conference in Banda Aceh on March 8-9, 2008, to formally launch the Aceh Communications Forum for development and effective voice in policy. This Forum is the first of its kind in Indonesia to assemble the executive and legislative bodies of local governments

The Founding Conference was addressed by the Vice Governor of NAD, representative of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM), and the Country Program Manager of Canada/Aceh Local Government Assistance Program (CALGAP). They were joined by representatives of  international donors, UCLG ASPAC, Local Government Associations of Indonesia, and the League of Municipalities of the Philippines (LMP). Over one hundred delegates attended the conference.

The March founding conference was preceded by a Working Conference held in July  2007, at which local governments recognized that there is a need for better inter-government linkages and cooperation among themselves. They also determined that they should foster better collaboration with the provincial government of Nangroe Aceh Darussalam (NAD) and the central government, to address the challenges they have to face in building good governance. Therefore,  delegates agreed to establish a Forum of Aceh Kabupatens/Districts and Kotas/Municipalities including both legislatures and executives. Both the Governor of NAD province and officials of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MoHa) expressed strong support for the setting up of the Forum.

The Working Conference created an Interim Working Committee (IWC) to focus on the Special Autonomy Fund and the law governing Aceh, and to convene a second conference to formally establish the Forum. The Canada/Aceh Local Government Assistance Program (CALGAP) that provided assistance for the organization of the Working Conference, made a commitment to support the IWC and the new Forum during its first year.

At the conference, delegates from FCM and LPM shared good practices on autonomy, legislative-executive relations and local governance. Forum members elaborated  on priorities for action, organizational structure, statute and they elected the Forum’s leadership.

Priorities and strategic initiatives comprise revenue sharing, special autonomy law, capacity development of kabupatens/kotas, relationship between legislature and executive, building linkages and sharing knowledge and good practices, economic development, and institutional capacity building of the forum.

The composition of the governing body of the Forum is a collective of 13 government officials as equals who can appoint a coordinator if necessary. The Forum will  be run by a secretariat of professionals with experience in local government capacity development.

The Forum serves as a joint communication medium which aims to establish synergic collaboration  between the municipal legislative and executive and to improve relationships with the provincial and national governments. Over time, the Forum is expected to take on roles such as beginning a center for studies and research for various issues in local development; it can help develop regulations and legislation on questions concerning public interests. It is also hoped to become an agency to promote the sharing of experiences and best practices among kabupatens and kotas

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