In Asia: Weekly Insight and Features from Asia

Despite continued economic growth in 2007, nearly half of Indonesia’s population lives on less than two U.S. dollars per day. With recent decentralization measures, there are now greater opportunities for Indonesian citizens to participate in the policy-making process and to hold local governments accountable for delivering services. Building on decades of collaboration with Indonesian organizations, The Asia Foundation is helping to bring together their local knowledge and influence with the technical expertise of budget and policy advocacy organizations to advance pro-poor development policies. Through this initiative in provinces and districts, Foundation partners are helping local governments draft poverty reduction development plans, and encouraging transparency by monitoring budget processes and, in some cases, publishing municipal annual budgets.