The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has pledged US$15 million for the General Elections Commission (KPU) to strengthen its institutional capacity ahead of the 2009 elections.
A memorandum of understanding (MOU) was signed here Wednesday by UNDP and the National Development Planning Agency (Bappenas).
KPU chairman Abdul Hafiz Anshary said he hoped the aid would help his office improve its capacity to prepare for the elections.
"The MOU prioritizes technical assistance in support of coordinating, monitoring and evaluating the 2009 general elections, familiarizing staff and others on the election regulations and helping election organizers to educate voters," he told a press conference, after the signing ceremony.
The aid will be disbursed in two stages: $10 million in 2009 and $5 million in 2010.
"The aid is not only aimed at the 2009 elections, but also at strengthening the KPU so it can continue its work," said Irman Lanti, UNDP governance unit program manager.
He said the KPU, through its regional chapters, had many tasks to undertake in preparing and coordinating regional elections.
The UNDP, Irman said, disbursed $200 million for Indonesia for the 1999 elections and $32 million for the 2004 polls.
"The amounts are getting smaller as we consider Indonesia has become more democratic," he said, adding that the UNDP is now channeling its aid funds to less democratic countries.
Bappenas chairman Paskah Suzetta said the KPU actually needed $30 million to improve its professional and institutional capacities for the 2009 elections.
The KPU would seek another $15 million from other donors, he said.
Bappenas deputy chairman for politics, law, defense and security Bambang Sutedjo said the government allocated nearly Rp 6.7 trillion ($727.86 million) from the 2008 state budget to pay for the elections.
As of June, the Finance Ministry has disbursed only Rp 2.9 trillion of this, saying it would disburse the rest after the KPU provided more complete election plans.
Indonesia is scheduled to hold legislative elections on April 9, 2009, in which 34 political parties will run, compared with 24 parties in the 2004 elections.
