9 July 2020 | JAKARTA – UCLG ASPAC enters the next phase of collaboration with the Ministry of Home Affairs (MoHA) of Indonesia. Marked by the signing of Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between UCLG ASPAC, represented by Secretary General Dr. Bernadia Irawati Tjandradewi and MoHA by Mr. Nelson Simanjuntak, Head of Facilitation Cooperation Centre, and in the presence of Vice Governor of Jakarta Capital City, Mr. Ahmad Riza Patria, representing Governor of Jakarta Province as the Co-President of UCLG ASPAC, all parties agreed to take this collaboration to the level that contributes much more tangible impacts to the development of urban areas and attainment of the sustainable development goals. Enhancing local governments’ capacity in achieving sustainable development goals has been taken as key focus of the collaboration.
Mentioned in the MoU are three areas of collaboration in strengthening the local government’s capacity in Indonesia in: drafting local development plan document, applying minimum service standard in local areas, and implementing local government’s affairs.
Reflecting back to the previous collaboration phase (2017-2020), UCLG ASPAC facilitated Jakarta, as the host city, in revitalising Kota Tua (old town area) through peer learning programme “Urban Renewal in Historic Town Centre.” UCLG ASPAC also strengthened the capacity of Fire Department of Jakarta and other cities in Indonesia in collaboration with Seoul Metropolitan Government. Further, UCLG ASPAC also supported Jakarta as Grant Administrator of Jakarta Resilience programme that has provided the city with resilience strategy launched by the Jakarta’s Governor last January.
The MoU Signing marks an important step in UCLG ASPAC efforts to contribute to the development of local government’s capacity. As UCLG ASPAC scope of work covers not only in Indonesia but also within Asia-Pacific, this MoU will open more access to learning exchanges and expert mobilisation for cities in Indonesia and also abroad. This will definitely open doors to much more collaborations and bring more benefits for cities.
An introduction on the MOU and Plan of Action on cooperation was presented by MOHA to UCLG ASPAC members in Indonesia on 23 July 2020 in a virtual meeting with the presence of President of UCLG ASPAC, Mayor Tri Rismaharini.
