IRD AWARDED $44 MILLION USAID GRANT TO BUILD PEACE AND MITIGATE CONFLICT IN INDONESIA
Grant Builds on IRD Operations Across Indonesia

Jakarta, Indonesia — March 1, 2008 —IRD began implementation of a program funded by a $44 million grant from the U.S. Agency for International Development to provide programmatic, administrative, and logistical support for USAID’s SERASI strategic grants and technical assistance program to mitigate social conflict and support peacbuilding initiatives across Indonesia.

IRD is proud to be recognized for our experience in Indonesia,” said Keys. “We’re looking forward to contributing both to the Indonesian government at the federal level and to the local communities where we’ve been working.”

Serasi, which means harmony in many Indonesian dialects, helps local civil society organizations, public institutions, and other partners target the causes and consequences of violent conflict. IRD, through community-driven and community-based activities, is providing training, networking and monitoring activities, with the goal of bringing together various stakeholder groups and community leaders.

Grants are awarded for local, provincial, and national projects that promote respect for human rights and improved inter-group relations. Several other goals of the program are to institutionalize a legitimate peace process in Aceh, increase capacity to manage conflict, and support a democratic and transparent security sector.

The Serasi program is funded for 36 months (2008-2011) with the possibility of extension for an additional 2 years. IRD is using the National Knowledge Management System to assist in making projects more efficient and effective, as well as ensuring that community concerns are acknowledged at the national level.

"This program provides opportunity for improvement and greater understanding among community members,” added Keys. “We want to empower Indonesians to respond to conflict in their communities in a positive and productive way."

IRD has been operational in Indonesia for almost 10 years. In the last 5 years, IRD has improved the relevance of secondary education to the workforce through the Decentralized Basic Education Program (DBE III); created employment opportunities and rebuilt the capacity of micro, small and medium-sized businesses through the Emergency Livelihood and Income Generation program funded by UNDP; and restored water sources and established good health practices through the Small Towns and Rural communities Restoration program – Phase II. which is funded by UNICEF.

IRD was founded in 1998 as a charitable, non-profit, non-governmental organization dedicated to reducing the suffering of the world’s most vulnerable groups and providing tools and resources needed to increase their self-sufficiency.

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