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ACT Appeal: Indonesia - Restructuring ASID-12

Countries
Indonesia
Sources
ACT Alliance
Publication date


Appeal Target: US$ 36, 597
Geneva, 23 July 2001

Dear Colleagues,

ACT member Persekutan Gereja di Indonesia (PGI) also known as the Communion of Churches in Indonesia (CCI) established Yayasan Tanggul Bencana (YTB) in 1991 to develop a structure that could respond to emergencies and also assist member churches in such responses. YTB and the PGI member churches have provided assistance to victims of various disasters and social or religious conflicts - volcanic eruptions (2), earthquake (10), tsunami (4), floods (10), droughts (2) and social/religious conflicts (6). Currently there are some 1,365,000 internally displaced persons in Indonesia fleeing conflicts in Maluku, Sulawesi, Kalimantan, Sumatra East Java, Madura Islands, West Timor and Western Papua.

All these calamities caused thousands of human casualties, loss of houses and means of livelihood, damage of infrastructure and displacement of populations. YTB-PGI assistance has comprised relief food, medicines and other basic needs as well as some preparedness and emergency response training for the local churches (pre-crisis phase). Although YTB have been able to respond to these crises, overall the church's response to disasters is facing major problems and along with its partners finds itself in the situation of coping with these crises alone with little structured support or co-ordination mechanisms. PGI wants to develop YTB to meet these needs.

ACT is taking the exceptional step of looking to restructure YTB in order to assist them in becoming a more efficient co-ordination body for emergency response in Indonesia. By strengthening YTB, they will in turn be able to assist the member churches with capacity building, emergency management training and planning. ACT will also be able to access relevant and timely information and co-ordinate its appeal process for the region in a more timely manner.

It will be a three year process and this is the proposal for the first 12 months only comprising recruitment of an experienced Executive Director with skeleton staff to restructure and focus direction. It is also foreseen that there will be an external technical advisor seconded to assist them in this vital exercise.

ACT is a worldwide network of churches and related agencies meeting human need through coordinated emergency response.

The ACT Coordinating Office is based with the World Council of Churches (WCC) and the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) in Switzerland.

Project Completion Date: 1 September 2001 - 31 August 2002.

Summary of Appeal Targets, Pledges/Contributions Received and Balance Requested

US$
Total Appeal Target(s)
36,597
Less: Pledges/Contr. Recd.
Balance Requested from ACT Network
36,597

Please kindly send your contributions to the following ACT bank account:

Account Number - 102539/0.01.061 (USD)
Account Name: ACT - Action by Churches Together
Banque Edouard Constant
Cours de Rive 11
Case postale 3754
1211 Genève 3
SWITZERLAND

Please also inform the Finance Officer Jessie Kgoroeadira (direct tel. +41 22/791.60.38, e-mail address jkg@act-intl.org) of all pledges/contributions and transfers, including funds sent direct to the implementers, now that the Pledge Form is no longer attached to the Appeal.

We would appreciate being informed of any intent to submit applications for EU, USAID and/or other back donor funding and the subsequent results. We thank you in advance for your kind cooperation.

ACT Web Site address: http://www.act-intl.org

Ms. Geneviève Jacques
Director
WCC/Cluster on Relations
Thor-Arne Prois
ACT Coordinator
Rev. Rudolf Hinz
Director
LWF/World Service

I. REQUESTING ACT MEMBER INFORMATION.

  • Yayasan Tanggul Bencana Persekutuan Gereja-Gereja di Indonesia (YTB - PGI) also known as the Communion of Churches in Indonesia (CCI).

II. IMPLEMENTING ACT MEMBER PARTNER INFORMATION

Persekutuan Gereja-Gereja di Indonesia (PGI) has 78 member churches throughout the country with about 12,000,000 members and around 15,000 pastors. Its mission includes provision of emergency relief in response to disasters in Indonesia.

Yayasan Tanggul Bencana (YTB), was established in 1991 by PGI with the purpose of dealing with disasters - both conflict and natural, as well as related environment problems in Indonesia. YTB central office is in Jakarta , but it plans to work through the Regional Communion of Churches and or the local Synod/Churches in the affected areas.

YTB has planned and implemented programs, such as disaster preparedness programs, including training to field workers (local churches), disaster mapping, setting up networking and fundraising - domestic and overseas.

An evaluation both by PGI and ACT has ascertained that, to function effectively and respond to the heavy demands, YTB needs restructuring and strengthening.

III. DESCRIPTION OF THE EMERGENCY SITUATION

Indonesia is a country consisting of over 13,000 islands. Its has a population of 210 million people with 60% of these living on the Island of Java. Much of the area is covered by thick tropical rain forests and enjoys fertile soil. However it is also volcanic and has seen many eruptions causing widespread devastation on a regular basis. Islands that have potential volcanic eruption are Sumatra, Java, Bali, Maluku and North Sulawesi. Indonesia is also located in a relatively active seismic region and has two major earth quake belts passing through its borders. It is estimated that Indonesia suffers on average 400 earthquakes each year some up to 7 on the Richter scale.

During the past five years YTB has participated in providing pre-crisis and crisis phase assistance though their implementing churches to the victims of various disasters and social or religious conflicts - volcanic eruptions (2), earthquake (10), tsunami (4 locations), floods (10), droughts (2) and social/religious conflicts (6). This assistance has comprised relief food, medicines and other basic needs as well as preparedness and emergency response training for the local churches (pre-crisis phase).

In the year 2000, Indonesia saw many natural disasters. These included earthquakes in West Java and Central Sulawesi, floods and landslides in the provinces of Central Java, Aceh, Sumatra, Sulawesi, Jambi, and West Timor. All these calamities caused thousands of human casualties, loss of houses and means of livelihood, damage of infrastructure and displacement of populations.

Currently there are some 1,365,000 internally displaced persons in Indonesia fleeing conflicts in Maluku, Sulawesi, Kalimantan, Sumatra East Java, Madura Islands, West Timor and Western Papua. Individual churches and organisations have been trying to provide them with their basic needs and help them in the rehabilitation and reconciliation process. Many of these conflicts , which start between two communities are infiltrated by government forces and militia who have been seen in many areas since the East Timor atrocities in 1999.

Current situation

Although YTB have been able to respond to the crises through some of PGI's member churches, which have been mentioned, overall the churches response to disasters is facing major problems.

  • The church organisations have a very limited capacity to respond to the disaster, both in the planning and the implementation stage
  • There is little co-ordination between the member churches, making the response often inadequate and fragmented
  • Few of the implementing members have received training on emergency management
  • There is little understanding of the ACT network, its philosophy, the code of conduct, the appeals process and the reporting needs. ACT has had trouble in getting initial information and then adequate reports for its back donors.
  • Communication between ACT Geneva and its members is difficult and often impossible.
  • There are communication problems between Jakarta and the other Islands

There has been a need voiced for a co-ordination body that will not in itself implement but will help build the capacity of the member churches to prepare for the disaster, and to respond more efficiently and effectively.

IV. GOAL & OBJECTIVES.

Goal: YTB to become a central body able to support and to build the capacity of regional churches responses to emergencies and to strengthen co-ordination and effectiveness of the churches network.

Objectives.

  • To devise a national capacity building programme for the regional churches
  • To devise a risk assessment and disaster mapping of Indonesia
  • To be able to train local organisations in assessments and proposal writing and emergency management training programs. Also to present ACT vision, the code of conduct and disaster management in general.
  • To devise a local fundraising programme to support churches relief programmes
  • Responsible for submitting proposals and obtaining reports for ACT international
  • Representing the regional churches at a national level at governmental, UN and non-governmental agencies

V. ACTIVITIES DURING THE FIRST YEAR.

Appointment of the key staff who will be able to give direction to the organisation.

The first year activities will include:

  • Devising a clear programme that includes the training, capacity building and the networking priorities of YTB.
  • Prioritising the training needs of the regional offices and devising and implementing a training programme for them
  • Training programme for YTB staff in ACT procedures, disaster management, assessment techniques and proposal and report writing
  • Establishing co-ordination with governmental and non-governmental agencies at the national and local levels.
  • Establishing the training program regarding disaster preparedness and emergency response to be implemented in disaster prone provinces. Priority target participants are ACT implementing members at the regional level including the local member churches of the PGI/CCI.

VI. QUALIFICATIONS & JOB DESCRIPTION of the EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR.

As the recruitment of an Executive Director is vital, we will apply careful selection.

The qualifications required are:

a. Proficient in written and spoken English.

b. Ability to work with computers.

c. Ability to communicate and access information through the networking system, including to ACT.

d. Age between 35 - 55 years and physically able for field work.

e. Member of a PGI member Church.

f. Strong knowledge of emergency management.

g. Experience in disaster management.

h. Sufficient knowledge of finance management.

i. Sufficient knowledge of PGI and Churches in Indonesia.

j. Ability to work in a team and to communicate with churches, NGO's and other related parties.

k. Approved by YTB and PGI/CCI Board.

Job Description.

The executive director's job description will include :

  • Implementation of YTB's program.
  • Planning, scheduling and program co-ordination and reporting within YTB's network.
  • Program budget planning and communicating to YTB Board for approval.
  • Strengthening YTB's local, national and overseas networking.
  • Arrange disaster assessment and co-ordinating a team if needed.
  • Assisting local program implementations.
  • Planning, programming and implementing domestic fundraising.
  • Regular reporting to YTB Board.
  • Plan and implement necessary field training.

VII. STAFF JOB DESCRIPTIONS

Secretariat Staff

The secretariat staff will assist the executive director in :

  • Program planning;
  • Gathering, analysis and dissemination of adequate information on emergencies;
  • Writing and submitting emergency appeal to ACT - Co-ordination Office;
  • Monitoring and evaluation of the implementation of the emergency program;
  • Writing and submitting reports on the implementation of the emergency program;
  • Co-operation activities with governmental and non-governmental bodies/agencies.


Financial Staff

The financial staff will assist the executive director in :

  • Program planning especially the financial aspect/budget;
  • Keeping financial and statistical records of the implementation of the emergency program;
  • Monitoring and evaluation of the program budgeted, income and expenditure;
  • Financial auditing and reporting;
  • Writing and sending financial report to ACT - CO.

VIII. IMPLEMENTATION SCHEDULE

YTB is looking for funding for the first year of what will be a 3 year restructuring programme.

IX. CO-ORDINATION.

YTB - PGI will make every effort to increase communication (exchange of information), co-operation and co-ordination between the YTB-PGI network, other ACT implementing members in Indonesia, and also between YTB - PGI and the local, NGOs, Christian organisations and churches in exchange of information and, if possible, in the implementation of certain emergency programs.

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