Project background

On Monday, October 25, 2010 such the Mentawai islands experienced an earthquake and tsunami, which caused loss and damages to the amount of Rp 348,92 billion, with the major impact on the productive economy. To support reconstruction efforts, the New Zealand Aid Programme has contributed the Indonesia Multi Donor Fund Facility for Disaster Recovery (IMDFF-DR), which is an established mechanism to help fund implementation of the government of Indonesia’s Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Action Plans (RENAKSI) that are formulated following disasters that require international support.

To support recovery on the Mentawai islands, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization, the United Nations Development Programme and the International Labour Organization have formulated a joint livelihoods recovery programme under the guidance of the office of the resident coordinator. The government identified three major priorities for the joint programme, including:

• Assistance for clean water provision and improved sanitation;
• Assistance for improving the agriculture value chain, including SME development; and
• Assistance for improving food security.

Project description

The joint programme aims at fulfilling the immediate needs of affected communities in North and South Pagai sub-district (approximately 501 households) through the provision of inputs in the form of seedlings and fishing equipments; the delivery of training to ensure the effective use of distributed inputs; and support the organization of farmers, fisherman and other workers to increase the sustainability of the livelihoods recovery activities. To compliment the agricultural and fishery sector recovery and enhance the sustainability of livelihoods on the Mentawai islands, the 4 in 1 methodology who once successfully implemented during ILO EAST project will be applied. This 4 in 1 training will be integrated with entrepreneurship skills training (GET Ahead) as well as skill training on micro-enterprise development, marketing and post production processing will be provided, along with provision of technical assistance to support capacity development of local government institutions for implementing the RENASKI. Technical assistance will be drawn upon to support strategic planning for local economic development and basic service provision.

Project output

The Mentawai Islands Livelihoods Recovery Programme contributes to UNPDF Outcome 2 (livelihoods) on the strengthening of institutional capacities to increase productive and sustainable livelihoods and decent work for the poor and vulnerable, young men and women. It also contributes to UNPDF Outcome 4 (Resilience) on strengthening the capacities of communities and government to respond to and recover from disasters and conflicts is more effective and timely. The joint programme also contributes to the Government of Indonesia’s Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Action Plans (RENAKSI).

The outcome of the Mentawai Islands Livelihoods Recovery Programme is the following:

Improved sustainable livelihoods and strengthened institutional capacity in disaster recovery in areas affected by the 2010 Mentawai earthquake and tsunami

Main activities

• Value chain assessment;
• Vocational training using 4 in 1 approach;
• Entrepreneurship training;
• Microfinance institution development; and
• Business development assistance.

Key partners

• Indonesia Multi Donor Fund Facility for Disaster Recovery (IMDFF-DR)
• National Disaster Management Agency
• National Development Planning Agency
• Ministry of Manpower and Transmigration
• Regional Disaster Management Agency
• Regional Development Planning Agency
• FAO
• UNDP
• UNRC