Comparative Analysis of Water Sector Reforms
Tracking Progress in Asia and the Pacific
Phase 1- Assessing Water Sector Policies and Reforms - Country Briefs
Indonesia
Indonesia is in the midst of major political and administrative changes, such as a far-reaching process of decentralization, that provide an uncertain environment for developments in the water sector. There have been large investments in water sector reform in recent years and good progress has been made in some areas, but sustained implementation of reforms have been more difficult to achieve, and results slow to materialize. Indonesia's leadership in river basin management provides a promising foundation for future change, however.
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NATIONAL POLICIES AND REFORMS
Excellent progress has been made in reviewing and developing water resources policy, but modernizing the legislative basis and implementing changes on the ground is proving less easy to achieve.
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WATER RESOURCES MANAGEMENT
Water resources and infrastructure management at the river basin scale (Brantas and Citarum Rivers) and flood mitigation are widely regarded as a success in Indonesia, and steps are being taken to extend them to basin level organizations. Many other aspects of WRM and the management of catchments/land cover and wetlands have been less successful, including the provision of basic information on water resources, establishment of mechanisms for water allocation, and the management of pollution, sedimentation and water quality.
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IMPROVING WATER SERVICES
Water services largely are provided and managed by various levels of government; government-owned utilities have limited autonomy or accountability. Service levels and coverage tend to be low, and reliance on central funding for O&M and investment has led to the deterioration and disrepair of much infrastructure. Some efforts are being made to transfer responsibility to beneficiaries, but success is slow in coming. There is limited private sector engagement, except that many irrigation schemes are operated by the farmers themselves.
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CONSERVING WATER
There is a history of state provision of water services, which generally has provided limited incentive for the community to conserve resources. Regulatory, tariff and educational arrangements have not been such as to encourage the public to use water efficiently.
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PROMOTING REGIONAL COOPERATION
Indonesia, although an island country, does have some international borders. The awareness of issues related to shared waters is at an early stage of development, and there is as yet limited provision for joint management of shared waters.
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FOSTERING PARTICIPATION; CAPACITY BUILDING; NETWORKING
Public participation, public/private partnerships, gender sensitivity and other internationally promoted approaches to water resources management are being incorporated into Indonesian policy and into water-related investments funded by international agencies. However, their effective implementation is proving slower to achieve. Capacity building, especially at sub-provincial and community levels, also is at an early stage.
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