EIGHT WEEKS REPORT OF SPECIAL TECHNICAL ADVISOR TO THE LUWU PROJECT

USAID assists the Govt of Indonesia prepare the Luwu area for transmigration by improving its transportation system, developing irrigation areas. establishing health facilities, and providing agricultural assistance and community development training. Evaluation is based on visits to 3 regional offices, meetings with sub-project bodies, and on-site observation. Evaluator feels project has outstanding possibilities for integrated development of resources and people if administrative obstacles can be overcome. The various projects are still operating as sector programs with little commitment by agencies and lack of team work. This divided authority makes delays and disruptions inevitable. The greatest need is to strengthen the Project Manager's position by giving him authority over budgets and all personnel. Project manager should also receive more timely technical advice and divide his time equally between office and field work. The special advisor needs to develop an area regional plan taking into account alternative development. It is estimated that the Luwu area has the potential to absorb up to 40,000 transmigrant families engaged in irrigation, fish farming, horticultural specialities, and service industries. Before transmigrant families can be placed, however, a future water supply to maintain the area must be assured; further planning of water, mineral, and forest resources uses made; and Bina Marga's delay to begin the physical work on roads and irrigation mapping overcome. It is recommended that an immediate engineering feasibility study of several low head streams as potential water storage reservoirs and hydro-electric power producers be made with forestry department responsible for the watershed of the irrigation supply streams. Since project implementation also depends on trained personnel, arrangements are being made with the Ford Foundation and Community Development Society of North America to train community members as extension workers to work with transmigrant villages through self-help activities and acceptance of change.