Joint Coordination Meeting between SLRT and Three Programs in Bantaeng, South Sulawesi

On 25 to 26 August 2016, the Bantaeng Regency Government in South Sulawesi held a Coordination Meeting regarding Service System and Integrated Referral (SLRT) together with the MAMPU Program (Empowering Indonesian Women for Poverty Reduction), MAHKOTA Program (Towards a Strong and Prosperous Indonesian Society Program) and KOMPAK (Indonesia Governance for Growth).

The event was attended by the SLRT Secretariat, BAPPENAS representatives, and Australian Embassy – DFAT’s representatives. It was officially opened by the Vice Regent, H. Muhammad Yasin in Bantaeng Regent Office. In his speech, the Vice Regent delivered his hopes that all relevant parties, especially the Office of Social, Manpower and Transmigration can continue to make efforts and evaluation in terms of poverty reduction. “Hopefully with these coordination meetings, Bantaeng may benefit as much as possible in order to contribute ideas for this nation,” said H. M. Yasin.

This initial meeting become a positive step, given some of the programs that supported by the Australian Embassy, such as: MAMPU, MAHKOTA, and KOMPAK, has a huge potential to reduce the number of poor people in Indonesia, especially in Bantaeng.

After the opening, the meeting followed by introductory explanation of MAMPU program presented by Astrid Wijaya and Dewi Damayanti. Then, continued with the introduction of SLRT and Puskesos by Widya Setyanto, Introduction of KOMPAK program by Ahmar Djalil, and Presentation of SLRT Bantaeng Secretariat by the Head of Sosnakertrans, Syahrul Bayan.

Moris Nuaimi, Head of Poverty and Social Protection Bappenas, said: “The alleviation of poverty must be simultaneous with how to overcome social inequalities. People of lower middle class will increasingly need protection against poverty comprehensively. Therefore, these programs aim to improve the welfare of poor and vulnerable groups in order to meet their basic needs.”

Theodore Weohau, Poverty and Social Development Advisor – DFAT Australian Embassy expressed, “Currently there are some social programs in Bantaeng which supported by Australian government, such as the MAMPU, MAHKOTA, and KOMPAK. These three programs are already collaborate and their coordination was good in Bantaeng. Hopefully, they can improve the coordination in the future”.

Reported by: Dewi Damayanti and Marie Astrid Wijaya (Partner Engagement Officer – MAMPU Program)