The role of transition assistance : the case of Indonesia

Principal activities funded by the approximately $30 million allocated to OTI through FY2000 included supporting Indonesian elections, strengthening the media, building civil society, improving civilian-military relations, and mitigating conflict. A study of transition assistance by USAID's Center for Development Information and Evaluation (CDIE) found OTI's programs played an important role in helping USAID respond quickly and appropriately with short-term assistance to support post-emergency political reform. OTI's capacity to identify opportunities and respond immediately to conflict situations enabled the U.S. Government (USG) to provide immediate support to peace committees and local groups addressing issues in volatile environments. The study also explored the limitations of transition assistance, including the need for effective integration and coordination with sustainable development programs. The CDIE evaluators found that the decision to launch transition assistance was characterized by consultation with the relevant USG agencies and considered the appropriate guidelines, albeit informally. Although OTI's initiative-planning approach maximized flexibility and quick response, it also led to a proliferation of program objectives and dual monitoring systems. Initial tension between OTI and USAID/Indonesia staff eased over time, but OTI's separate planning and monitoring processes worked against full integration. The formation of cross-sectoral teams improved coordination of OTI and USAID/Indonesia activities in conflict-prone regions. Election assistance and media strengthening activities proved particularly effective. Exiting from Indonesia has proven difficult, complicated by the need to respond to new situations, strong support for OTI activities by other U.S. entities, and lack of a clear phase-out policy. Lessons learned from OTI's Indonesia experience include the need to balance short-term flexibility important in responding to crisis situations with long-term, capacity building programming. The study concluded that transition assistance could help reduce tension, but was not a panacea for addressing underlying conflict issues. Linking OTI's short-term assistance with longer term activities could help maximize overall effectiveness, as would an approach to monitoring results within the country context. A clear and consistent duration and phase-out policy would facilitate activity handoff and an orderly transition to regular programs. (Author abstract, modified)