June 11, 2013

“This training is extremely useful for us to better understand what is local planning and budgeting. The society has to improve the area together; District Government of Pegunungan Bintang has to put in a serious effort as well, don’t just get the salary but never even come to work!” said Leony, who is also an AIDS activist.

In the context of AIPD Program, on 3-7 June PATTIRO conducted planning and budgeting training for civil society organization in the district of Pegunungan Bintang, Papua. Held at the Oksibil Convent Guesthouse, the training was attended by 13 participants of whom 10 participants were men and 3 were women. Participants came from several organizations such as Catholic Youth, Aplim Apom tribal council, Christian Education and Development Organization (YPPK), National AIDS Commission (KPA), WKRI, Kadesi Organization, as well as other civil society organizations in the district of Pegunungan Bintang.

PATTIRO’s Papua coordinator, Muhammad Syaifullah, said that the training was intended to improve civil society’s awareness, capacity and participation to be more involved in local planning and budgeting process. The training was appreciated by the Head of the Local Development Planning Agency of Pegunungan Bintang district, M. Satiri that was also one of the guest speakers at the training. He concluded that this training is very strategic in building society’s capacity to better understand the planning and budgeting process so that in the future it can work better with the government.

In the training that was facilitated by the PATTIRO Jakarta team, participants received training materials such as the local government budget (APBD) and public service, cycle of APBD and society participation, process and problems in the local planning and budgeting, analysis of planning documents and APBD, local innovation, and advocacy planning technique. Furthermore, participants were also practicing general analysis of APBD.

One of the tribal council representatives, Leony Oktema expressed her view after completing the training, “This training is extremely useful for us to better understand what is local planning and budgeting. The society has to improve the area together; District Government of Pegunungan Bintang has to put in serious effort as well,  don’t just get the salary but never even come to work!” said Leony, who is also an AIDS activist.

In the training, participants agreed to form a group called Sibilki Alliance, which aims to monitor and advocate local strategic issues and to encourage society participation in the Pegunungan Bintang development process. For the first period, it has been selected for the Coordinator position is Mr. Isak Mul from YPMK, the Secretary is Mr. Marselus Yawalka from YPMPB and the Treasurer is Leony Oktemka from the Aplim Apom tribal council.