Strengthening the Poverty Reduction Capacity of Regional Governments through Participatory Poverty Assessment (PPA)

Following the development of the Indonesia National Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (PRSP), there was a call for the development of a Regional PRSP through an inclusive process of Participatory Poverty Assessment (PPA). This study has pilot tested an effort to develop the capacity of district (kabupaten) governments in conducting PPA and using its results as one of the inputs for the preparation of the regional development plan, including the Regional PRSP. This nine-month study was commenced in April 2005 and completed in December 2005. It was carried out in two districts, Kabupaten Bima in the Province of West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) and Kabupaten Tapanuli Tengah in the Province of North Sumatera. The progress and the results of this study is reported in the Phase I and Phase II Reports, and the Final Report. The results of this study include an analysis of the poverty condition in the two pilot districts, an assessment on the capacity of the district government in analyzing poverty and designing policy and programs for reducing poverty, and an assessment on the potential integration of PPA into the regional development planning process. Based on these results, several recommendations have been drawn with regard to alternative policies for reducing poverty in the two pilot districts, efforts to develop the capacity of district governments in poverty reduction, and the integration of PPA into the existing regional planning process.