Indonesia: FAO to coordinate donors' assistance to the country's agricultural policies

More than 15 donors met on 15 February 2002 in the UN building in Indonesia to coordinate their efforts in providing assistance to the Government's agricultural policies. This initiative, promoted by the Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Bungaran Saragih and convined by the FAO a.i. Representative, Mr. Claude Joly, aimed at avoiding duplication of efforts and promoting synergies among the major donor agencies.

During the meeting, participants presented their current plans and projects related to the country's agricultural policies, and agreed to continue the exchange of information on lessons learned, as well as present and future strategies. This coordination mechanism will operate initially in matters concerning agricultural policies, but will expand eventually to other sectors, such as fisheries and rural development. Participants to the meeting included representatives of the World Bank, Embassies of Japan, France, Spain and Italy, USAID, the Asian Development Bank, and the Japan International Cooperation Agency.