Institutionalizing Disaster Preparedness and Management Capacity of BPBDs in Indonesia through Technical Assistance and Training Teams

The program was initially designed as a two-year pilot program but was subsequently expanded, with the latest modification extending the program end date to 31 December 2018 and increasing the award to $9 million. During the semi-annual reporting period from 01 October 2017 to 31 March 2018, TATTs has impacted 1,589 direct beneficiaries (cumulative total 13,607) through 29 technical trainings, coaching, and technical assistance across the eight target provinces. A total of 646 people received training, with 475 males and 171 females. The program has focused on implementing the eight joint TATTs-BPBD workplans, which are based on gaps analysis of BPBD organizational capacity, local needs, and the priorities of each province. TATTs has successfully embedded technical assistance teams in eight provincial BPBDs, providing tailored technical training, mentoring, and support to the target government institutions through a consortium model that brings together local and international non-government organizations, universities, and the private sector. The program has also strengthened its level of engagement and coordination with the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB), with TATTs submitting program activity TORs to BNPB's Planning Bureau for review. The program has made significant progress in achieving its strategic objectives, with BPBDs in target provinces delivering inclusive DRM services. TATTs has signed MOUs with each of the eight provincial governments, revising and extending the partnership between TATTs and the target BPBDs to the 31 December 2018 program end date. The program has also supported the development of the BPBDs' new draft five-year strategic plans (Renstras), with TATTs working with the BPBD Maluku to develop their Renstra and supporting the BPBDs of Papua, East Java, and West Papua to review their Renstras. In preparation for the upcoming provincial elections, TATTs is using this opportunity to better position and prepare the BPBDs for the expected changes in local policy direction and priorities. The program is supporting the development of the disaster management sections of the 'whole-of-government' medium-term development plans (RPJM/D), which will be passed by local parliament and set the policy agenda and priorities of the new administrations. TATTs support will be demand-driven, with any technical assistance provided based on the needs of the new provincial administrations.