Você está na página 1de 42

FINAL REPORT EVALUATION OF YSBS INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECT

Management of Infrastructure and Community Development Graduate School Universitas Gadjah Mada

In Cooperation with

Yayasan Sosial Bina Sejahtera Cilacap 2013


1

Preface Since 1992 YSBS has already implemented the program of developing the country through infrastructure projects in the District of Cilacap, Central Java. The infrastructure projects are provided to meet the basic needs of society in the form of transportation (public roads, bridges), irrigation, education, health and clean water. Miseror (Germany) provided funding for the infrastructure projects implemented in 2006-2012. The present study is conducted to evaluate implementation of the

projects. It is not only useful to know the effects and outcomes of the projects, but also to provide information about performance in the past, providing valuable information for the development of quality management projects in the future. We would like to express our appreciation to Miseror (Germany) to support the evaluation. We would like to acknowledge YSBS to provide a lot of information and useful resources relevant to the evaluation. We also want to knowledge to the Government Officials of Cilacap District for their support. Last but not least, we want to acknowledge lectures and students of the Department of Management of Infrastructure and Community Development, Postgraduate School, Gadjah Mada University, who have participated in process of data collection and analysis, as well as giving critical notes for this report.

Sunyoto Usman

Arif Wismadi

Executive Summary
This evaluation aims to evaluate the implication of the Social Development Center of Bina Sejahtera (Yayasan Sosial Bina Sejahtera), or later abbreviated as YSBS, infrastructure projects during 2006 to 2012. The evaluation is particularly to see how the progress of the projects performances and identify their social and economic impacts towards the community. This evaluation can also be both the input and lesson learned towards any efforts dealing with poverty alleviation, especially, by applying the rural infrastructure projects. It can also become an investment in developing the project management quality. However, there are several aspects concerned in the evaluation including relevance, impacts/outcomes, effectiveness, efficiency, and sustainability. The YSBS infrastructure projects are based on a proposal submitted by the local community. The local community, in this case, is allowed to speak out their needs. YSBS, on the other hand, is basically a partner dealing with material and financial support, contributing ideas and mentoring. In fact, in the implementation, YSBS functions more as the dominant part and positions more as the enabler in the society. In some villages, the roles and participation of the local people and that YSBS are generally equal. Nevertheless, they still develop a high dependence on YSBS. The YSBS infrastructure projects are fundamentally not only to improve the people knowledge on the rural infrastructure provision and utilization and to widen the local accessibility to public services such as education, health, and government, but also to develop the asset and local capabilities. YSBS is not only able to encourage the community to actively participate in the infrastructure projects plans and implementation but also to build a partnership with the local community leaders in the community and the local government in identifying the material and financial needs, analyzing the problems and finding the solutions. Moreover, in the implementation, the YSBS projects use a convenient technology that can be easily used by the local community. They can also be integrated with the local governments infrastructure projects. Thus, both the local participation and the partnership with the local community leaders and government have become the main asset in maintaining the projects sustainability. The new paddy fields in Segara Anakan can be developed to support the food security program. The local farmers can be facilitated and trained to improve their cultivation, agricultural processing, and products marketing. In this case, YSBS also supports the program especially by provisioning and utilizing canals and pumps to increase the mudflow volume to the swamps. YSBS, collaborating with the local government, counsel and train the local farmers, strengthen the local institutions, and facilitate the local farmers to collaborate with the external food security institutions. Keywords: infrastructure, local community, empowerment, socio-economic impacts

1.

Background For two decades, during 1992-2012, Social Development Center of Bina

Sejahtera YSBS, sponsored by Misereor from Germany, had implemented the infrastructure projects in 71 villages in 23 sub-districts of 24 sub-districts in Cilacap District. Considering the huge numbers of the projects, the evaluation is limited to the last 6 years projects, in which, during 2006-2012. They are the projects of 416025/1007 ZG 2006-2008, 416-025/1010 ZG 2008-2009 and 416-025/1014 ZG 20102012. The infrastructures built according to that contracts included the roads, dykes, drainages, dams, canals or tunnels, bridges, flood control canals, and school yard land filling. Some of those projects were newly initiated whereas the others were previously constructed. The projects during 2006 to 2012 had required a substantial funding, in which, around 1.6 million Euros which was used in the infrastructure projects in 71 villages in 17 sub-districts in Cilacap District. The YSBS infrastructure projects were implemented by participative approach which particularly sets out the bottom-up planning. This approach is considered more prioritizing the community needs. It has positioned the community as the most understanding part due to the kinds, capacities, and truly functions of the infrastructure projects. Those projects, realized as the physical facilities, were purposely to empower the lower group to take any innovative actions to improve their conditions, from the marginal to the productive one. Furthermore, YSBS did also collaborate with the local government in formulating the goals, targets, and policies to alleviate poverty. In line with this case, all of the community parts, including the local government and any other parties, had admitted that the YSBS infrastructure projects had significantly improved the lower groups assets and capabilities. In fact, the implementation of the projects in several villages did not run so well. On the other hand, the projects had generally given a positive stimulus to any rural development activities. They had also been proven to encourage the community empowerment and collaboration or social cohesion within the village communities as well. Nevertheless, the evaluation of the YSBS infrastructure projects is required. It becomes important to do to comprehensively analyze the impacts, opportunities,

and constraints of the projects. Those three important elements are expected to be varied in each location. Meanwhile, the outcome of the evaluation can be used as an input and lesson learned by other institutions which specifically work in the poverty alleviation and community empowerment activities. YSBS can also apply it to improve a better and optimal projects implementation in the future. Therefore, this kind of evaluation is also able to become an investment for improving the project management quality. One of the evaluated infrastructure projects is the dam in Tritih Village, Cilacap District. Although the Misereor sponsored it for only about 25% of the total cost, it results in good impacts towards the socio-economic development of the local communities.

2.

Objectives and Significances of the Evaluation The evaluation of the YSBS infrastructure projects aims to: 1. Identify the physical condition of the projects, capacities, functions, and their management strategy. 2. Figure out the socio-economic changes in the communities as the outcome of the projects implementation. 3. Identify the stakeholders responses and the beneficiary parties adaptations to the socio-economic changes. 4. Figure out the relevance, outcomes, effectiveness, efficiency and sustainability of the YSBS projects. The significances of the evaluation of the YSBS infrastructure projects are as follows: 1. For Misereor, the outcome of the evaluation can provide information about the funding use and management given to YSBS to alleviate poverty by applying the infrastructure projects in Cilacap District. 2. For the higher education institutions, particularly the Department of Infrastructure Management and Community Development, Master Program of Gadjah Mada University (as the evaluator), this outcome can provide practical knowledge that can be very helpful in the learning process of the socio-economic impacts of the rural infrastructure utilization.

3. For YSBS, this outcome can provide feedback of the given strategies, and that to improve the accountability and quality of the planning and implementation of the rural infrastructure projects in the future. It can also be used as the best practices and lesson learned which can be applied in the next other regions. 4. For the local community, as the beneficiary party, this evaluation can also be applied to improve the participation in the planning and implementation of the projects, as well as to improve the creative and innovative ideas in utilizing the infrastructure projects. 5. For the Cilacap District Government, this outcome can be applied to see how comprehensive the rural development programs which are planned and implemented using a collaboration scheme between the local government, social development center (specifically YSBS), and the local community. This kind of the collaboration scheme can be next replicated by the Cilacap District Government and any other institutions.

3.

Conceptual Framework At least, there are three substantial elements in the evaluation of the

infrastructure projects. First, the methods of evaluation should provide clear information about the setting of the project, the needs and the kinds of data, the sources of information, and also the technique of collecting, processing, and analyzing the data. The clarity is needed to synchronize perception and communication between the implementers and the evaluators. Second, the evaluation should notice the projects provision and utilization process. Those processes require a comprehensive analysis of the infrastructure provision and utilization impacts, any opportunities, constraints, responses, and community adaptations. Third, the evaluation should notice the socioeconomic benefits towards the community. Therefore, to fulfill those criteria, a conceptual framework is required. The framework should not only pays more attention to the physical and technological dimensions but also the communitys socioeconomic dimensions. Here is explained the conceptual framework applied by the evaluator team from Management Infrastructure and Community DevelopmentMICD of Gadjah

Mada University, in evaluating the YSBS infrastructure projects (see diagram 1). In this conceptual framework, the infrastructures are conceived as the physical facility featured with its services system. Therefore, the infrastructures are not only seen from the technological side (technique domain), but also from the provision and utilization process (management), and the impacts upon the communitys socio-economic changes. The conceptual framework is then put as a reference to identify the needs and the kinds of data, sources of data, key informants, and techniques of collecting, processing, and analyzing data. This conceptual framework shows that the evaluation begins with identifying the characteristics of the YSBS infrastructure projects including the physical condition, capacities, functions, management, delivery mechanism, and projects equity. The outcomes of the elements identification are then used as a foundation to analyze the impacts of the YSBS projects upon the socio-economic changes, the responses of the stakeholders including the local government, local institutions, and the donors, and also the adaptation of the beneficiary group to the changes.

Diagram 1. Conceptual Framework

The impacts of the YSBS infrastructure projects are expected to be quite diverse. Thus, the responses of the stakeholders and the adaptation of the beneficiary group to the socio-economic changes are also expected to be diverse. In several villages, the YSBS projects have given significant socio-economic changes. In line with this, the response of the stakeholders and the adaptation of the beneficiary group are considered high. In other villages, on the other hand, the response of the stakeholders and the adaptation of the beneficiary group are considered lower. Therefore, the analysis of those three matters above has become a significant input to evaluate the performance of the YSBS projects. The evaluation includes several aspects, that is, relevance, outcomes/impacts, effectiveness, efficiency, and sustainability. The aspect of relevance, as the first aspect in the evaluation, observes the progress of the YSBS infrastructure projects in accordance with the willingness, knowledge, and community capabilities. The infrastructure projects organized by YSBS may be suitable for the community requirement. However, the communitys willingness, knowledge, and level of capabilities are also significant for the

continuance of the projects. They depict the position of YSBS in the implementation of the projects. Firstly, YSBS can be positioned in the central position (enabler). Secondly, it can be equivalently positioned to the community (empowering) or, thirdly, just the opposite, the community holds the most important position since they are involved in the formulation and the decision-making of the projects planning and implementation. The second aspect, the aspect of outcomes/impacts, observes the impacts of the YSBS infrastructure projects upon the reservoir of the community knowledge on the rural infrastructure, especially on the strategy to plan and to implement the projects. It will be very advantageous to the community when they should build and manage the infrastructures, either independently or financially supported by the government. Besides, this aspect also observes how the projects improve the local community accessibility to any public services such as education and health. It also observes how the impacts of the projects upon the improvement of the economic growth of the local community. The third aspect, the aspect of effectiveness, observes the technological application in the YSBS infrastructure projects provision and utilization. The convenient and easy-to-use equipments are expected to provide high effectiveness. Furthermore, this aspect does also observe the participation of the local people, community leaders, and government in the planning and implementation of the YSBS projects. The planning and implementation process of the projects, featured by a high local participation, will lead to good quality outcomes. It will also develop the sense of belonging which will be very useful in producing such high enthusiasm for improving the public accessibility, asset and community capabilities development. The fourth aspect, the aspect of efficiency, observes the material and financial availability which will be used in the provision and utilization of the YSBS infrastructure projects. This aspect also compares the cost expended with the quantity (the width and the length) produced. The projects are considered efficient if the minimal cost can produce an optimal result or if there is no improvidence occurred. Furthermore, this aspect also notices the form and direction of the collaborative activities or the synergy between the local community, YSBS, and the local government in the infrastructure provision and utilization. In this case, the

collaborative activity does not only aim to accelerate or to clarify the material and financial availability, but also to organize a collaborative act in the planning and implementation of the appropriate infrastructure projects. The last aspect in the evaluation is the aspect of sustainability. It observes how the infrastructure projects have fairly facilitated the community in producing products and services in accordance with their capacity. This aspect also notices that the projects should be environmentally-friendly that will not lead to the environmental degradation. It also notices the equity of distribution and opportunities, and avoids discrimination, both gender and social discrimination. Considering this condition, the YSBS infrastructure projects are more positioned as the medium to reach the goals to improve the community welfare, especially of that lower group. From the conceptual framework shown above, it shows that the evaluation also identifies the participation of the community, local government, and the social development center (donors) within the implementation of the projects. The identification is based on the assumption that the infrastructure projects concern not only the physical domain but also the services system to resolve the problem (in terms of poverty). The services system directly relates to the knowledge, attitude, individual and collective actions of the local people in the project site. Therefore, the evaluation should be done comprehensively and consider the socio-economic domains as well.

4.

Methods of Evaluation

4.1. Focus For the last two decades, started in 1992 until 2012, the YSBS infrastructure projects funded by Misereor had implemented many projects in several areas in Cilacap District. Therefore, this evaluation program is limited to the projects implemented in the last six years, started in 2006 until 2012. The infrastructures evaluated include the villages streets, irrigation canals, dykes, and dams. There are many ways of the implementation process of the projects. Some of the projects have been finished on-time, whereas the others are still on-going. However, the impacts of the projects have been able to be observed, especially the impacts on the improvement of accessibility to the public services like education and health, and its

10

contribution to the local economic activities. In fact, not all socio-economic impacts from all projects implementation can be identified. The list of the villages visited for the evaluation program of the YSBS infrastructure projects can be seen below:

Table 1. Evaluation Sites No


1 2

Sub-Districts Cilacap Utara Jeruk Legi

Patimuan

Gandrungmangu Bantarsari

Kawunganten

Kedungreja

Kampung Laut

Villages Mertasinga Brebeg Prapagan Sawangan Sidamukti Bulupayung Cinyawang Bulusari Cisumur Bantarsari Binangun Kedungwadas Cikedondong Kawungaten Lor Grugu Bringkeng Mentasan Ciklapa Kaliwungu Sidanegara Ujung Gagak Panikel

Kinds of Projects Dam Street Street Street Street Street Street Street Street Street Street Street Street Street Street Street, dyke Street Street Street Street Street, dyke, canal (water tunnel) Street, dyke, canal (water tunnel)

The table shows that the evaluation has encompassed information from 22 villages. In the 22 villages stated above, the street conditions are good enough to be reached by cars. However, the streets to Ujung Gagak Village and Panikel Village still require reparation. The streets in those two villages are included in the YSBS infrastructure projects. Indeed, almost all of the YSBS infrastructure projects during

11

2006-2012 are mostly the streets (almost in all sample villages). However, this study also evaluates the other infrastructures such as dam in Tritih Village, dyke in Ciberem Village, canals in Ujung Gagak, Panikel, and Pelindukan Villages. Those last three villages mentioned are parts of Kampung Laut Sub-District which most of the land is shallow following the sedimentation of Citandui River. The canal projects in those three villages operate to stream mud to elevate the land surface. This infrastructure projects had resulted in the increase number of new paddy fields and the agricultural production. In several villages which were chosen as the population sample, there also found the other infrastructure projects initiated by the Cilacap District Government in the scheme of the National Program for Community Empowerment (PNPM Mandiri), and also from any NGOs. However, it does not bother the evaluation program of the YSBS infrastructure projects since they are rather different in technical process. The governmental infrastructure projects, in particular, were rather organized bureaucratically. The local community was accompanied to make plans and afterwards the local government allocated the budget which had been agreed by the Cilacap District Government. For the local people, the YSBS projects and the governmental projects (by PNPM Mandiri scheme) are usually distinguishable since the Father plays a conspicuous role in the planning and implementation process of the YSBS projects.

4.2. Kinds and Categories of Data Here is informed the kinds of data collected in the evaluation. 1. 2. Kinds and sites of the YSBS infrastructure project during 2006-2012. The physical condition, capacities and functions of the YSBS infrastructure projects. 3. The numbers of the YSBS projects which are implemented according to the local community proposal, and the criteria applied by YSBS to approve the proposal. 4. The numbers of the YSBS projects which are self-initiated by YSBS, the YSBS consideration becoming the initiator or the projects, and the YSBS consideration in deciding the target villages as the project sites.

12

5.

The approximate numbers of the poor families who will be given the projects.

6.

The other infrastructure projects (the governmental project, for example) which are also implemented in the target villages.

7.

The benefits of the YSBS projects implementation and the external parties, besides the target group, which are also benefitted by the projects implementation.

8.

The target group, sub-district and district government supports to the implementation of the YSBS infrastructure projects.

9.

Considerations for reaching the goals of the YSBS projects.

10. The impacts of the YSBS projects on the target groups knowledge, attitude changes, and actions related to the provision and utilization process of the rural infrastructure, social organization activities, and social cohesion. 11. The impacts of the YSBS projects on the target groups accessibility to the health, education, and government services. 12. The impacts of the YSBS projects on the social mobility, economic activities, family incomes, and job opportunities in the villages. 13. The impacts of the YSBS project on the land use and the environmental sustainability. The kinds of data above are used to arrange the questionnaires items. Some questions are structured, meaning that the answers shown to the respondents are an alternative one which will be freely chosen by the respondents. Some of questions are open, meaning that the answers depend wholly on the respondents opinion. The questionnaire in this evaluation is brought by an interview guide. Thus, the respondents are not necessary to fill it themselves. This way is considered more effective since the questions will be flexibly delivered. Although the YSBS infrastructure projects are basically addressed to facilitate the poverty alleviation, their physical condition, capacities and functions in the practice are varied. It however leads to the varied management in the infrastructure projects. That is why they are needed to be observed. In this case, the type of the institution, rules, funding system, and human resources are identified. Then, what to

13

be observed next are the responses of the stakeholders within the villages, subdistricts and district, and also their adaptation to the socio-economic changes after the projects is implemented.

4.3. Sources of Data and Techniques of Collecting Data Information about the socio-economic changes, the responses of the stakeholders, and the beneficiary groups adaptation to the changes was collected by depth interview technique that included 85 respondents. The 85 respondents came from the projects beneficiary group, local people, village community leaders and officials in the sample villages. They were chosen purposively. It means that the respondents were those who clearly understood and actively participated in the planning and implementation process of the YSBS infrastructure projects. The evaluator team had firstly contacted the village officials to collect the information about the local people and local community leaders who were able to give an explanation on the YSBS projects during 2006-2012. The chosen people, guided by the questionnaire, were then interviewed about the implementation of the YSBS projects. In this evaluation, the YSBS staffs were also interviewed. However, the interview was particularly addressed to those who were actively involved in the sites to manage the implementation of the projects. This evaluation also studied the YSBS documents containing any information about the planning process, technology application, budget allocation, and supporting resources to the implementation of the YSBS projects. This study met no difficulty since all parties involved were very welcome (including the YSBS staffs, local government, and local community), and they were also pleased to open-mindedly give the required information to the evaluator team. This evaluation program also organized a focus group discussion with local community leaders as the representatives from each sample villages. The FGD was organized for two objectives. First, it was to collect additional information about the responses and community adaptation to the YSBS infrastructure projects, and also the opportunities and constraints that they probably encountered in the provision and utilization process of the projects. Second, it was to confirm the interim report. The respondents were asked to give comments and critical notes to the interim evaluation

14

outcomes. The FGD also invited the government officials in the village, sub-district and district levels, and the activists from non-government organizations who were experienced in accompanying the community in the planning and implementation of the rural infrastructure projects. Figure 1. Map of the Project Sites

On the map above, it is seen that the YSBS infrastructure projects during 2006-2012 are located in the south area of Cilacap District, and some of them are on the side of Segara Anakan. The sites of the YSBS infrastructure projects are nearby the Cilacap City and they can be easily reached by motorcycles or cars.

4.4.

The Evaluator Team The evaluator team consisted of the experts and researchers, both males and

females, who experience in the evaluation research. Their educational backgrounds are commonly sociology, policy studies, development studies, planning studies and civil engineering. They were actively involved in the process of collecting, formulating, and analyzing data. The required information was collected by depth interview technique, direct observation, and library research on the YSBS and

15

Cilacap District Government documents. The interview was done by using Indonesian Language or Javanese Language. The use of the Javanese Language in the interview, as the vernacular, was able to collect the information better due to untranslatable terminologies (from Javanese to Indonesian formal language). The information collected was later categorized into several categories to identify their each characteristic.

5.

Relevance Although the YSBS projects target is actually the lower community, the

external community excluding the beneficiary group is also socio-economically benefitted. Almost all of the YSBS infrastructure projects are actually the continuance of the previous projects in the years before 2006. In its practice, it is shown that there are various understanding within the community about the implementation of the YSBS infrastructure projects. At least, there are three major groups categorized. People who belong to the first group were those who exactly understood about the projects implementation. They knew the project sites, the requirement of any material and financial supports, and also the implementation schedule. They were usually involved in the planning and submitting proposal process to YSBS. They understood the content of the proposal submitted to YSBS, and realized the YSBS role in supporting their proposed infrastructure projects. People who belong to the second group were those who had adequate understanding of the implementation of the YSBS projects. In fact, they tended to not actively participating in the process of proposal-making. They were usually asked to give some additional inputs into the proposal. Meanwhile, people who belong to the third group were those who barely knew the implementation of the YSBS projects. In fact, they did not particularly understand it. They were also not directly involved in the proposal-making. However, various understandings found in the practice do not cause significant problems. The people involved in the implementation process are sure that they will be socio-economically benefitted from the implementation of the YSBS infrastructure projects.

16

In the implementation process, YSBS positioned itself as a partner of the target group. YSBS respected and took into account the ideas and notions initiated by the local community. YSBS regarded them as people with better understanding or knowledge about the kinds, capacities, and functions of the infrastructures that should be built. The local people were then given opportunities to submit a proposal related to the infrastructure projects needed. YSBS then should carefully study the proposal. The materials and financial assistance were then allocated after considering two things; first, the infrastructures were highly recommended to be implemented, and second, the local people had high commitment to actively participate in the
I did not exactly know how much rocks and sand delivered by YSBS. The YSBS trucks usually carry the materials directly to the project site. The local people have already understood this kind of working procedure. For me, it is not such a big problem. The most important thing now is that the streets in this village are repaired. I believe YSBS has already worked well according to their procedure, sincerity, and honesty. (Tirwan, Brebeg) I did not have any idea of how much the cost that YSBS expended to fund the projects, like supplying and transporting the materials (sand and rocks). I once participated in the proposal-making that was submitted to YSBS. Then, I got news that our proposal was approved. Afterwards, the projects are directly handled by YSBS. I believe YSBS has worked well according to their procedure. For me, the most important thing is that the villages streets are repaired, so that the people can go outside the village easily. (Sroto, Ciklapa)

projects. However, the proposal submission procedure was quite simple. The proposal should be submitted directly to YSBS for later being approved. The local community would be informed soon after the approval. In fact, the YSBS often functioned as a more dominant part than the local people. YSBS was viewed as the central part in giving material and financial assistance in the rural infrastructure projects. This kind of tendency happened since most of the target groups came from the lower group (poor family). They developed a high expectation of YSBS giving them such materials, financial, and ideas assistances. The dominant role of YSBS shows that YSBS had positioned itself more as the enabler or it constituted a partnership called enabling partnership scheme. In several villages, however, the partnership scheme applied was that positioning YSBS in an equal part with the local people. This kind of partnership develops more an empowering partnership scheme. In this scheme, YSBS was still expected to assist
17

the local people in the material, finance, and relevant ideas towards the projects. The local people, on the other hand, were also expected to supply materials, finance, ideas, and human resources to succeed the projects. However, the local people should be placed as a more dominant part than YSBS in the next infrastructure projects. The local potential should be explored and rightly-used to fulfill the local needs. Therefore, the strategy to develop local independency is highly needed. The partnership scheme between YSBS and the local community should promote more the principles of delegating partnership. In

this partnership scheme, YSBS

plays role only in supporting material, finance, ideas,

and any required needs cannot which be

afforded by the local people. Nevertheless, the local people are expected to work independently in the provision and utilization process of the infrastructure projects within their village. However, this kind of expectation seems to be hardly realized since most of respondents expect YSBS to continue the implementation of infrastructure projects for several reasons below: 1.8% of the respondents said that there was no other infrastructure project, except the YSBS. 35.7% of the respondents said that some of the 2006-2012 projects were still ongoing. 62.5% of the respondents said that the YSBS projects could support the other infrastructure projects, such as the PNPM Mandiri projects.

In the implementation practice, in fact, both YSBS and the local community were quite flexible in both position and roles. It shows that the position-shifting is

18

quite possible depending on the type of project and the socio-economic condition of the local community. In the beginning of the implementation, it was possible to develop an enabling partnership scheme. However, in its progress, it developed into an empowering partnership scheme. There are at least three reasons why the partnership between YSBS and the local community more constituted an enabling partnership scheme. First, the local community was at a low economic state that made them unable to build their own infrastructures since it required a substantial funding. For those people, it was unaffordable. Therefore, the YSBS materials and financial assistance were expected to help them fulfill the requirements. Second, the local community had lack of knowledge and skill to make an infrastructure project proposal. Therefore, YSBS needed to assist them to give a relevant input to the provision and utilization process of the infrastructure projects. Third, the local institutions in the village were not capable of running the infrastructure projects. They tended to take a passive act and expect any external helps. This condition has encouraged YSBS to support and give guidance to the implementation of infrastructure projects. Nevertheless, the local people of some villages played the dominant role. They could take the initial notion for then YSBS gave them suggestion and assistance. It can be found in the villages that previously had the YSBS infrastructure projects before 2006, or those that had been previously funded by the government (using PNPM Mandiri scheme). Those infrastructure projects, initiated and funded by the central government (Jakarta), were channeled by Cilacap District Government. The local community was also involved in the planning and implementation process whereas the material and financial assistance of YSBS were used to support the finishing part. In this case, a good relationship and partnership between YSBS and the government was however developed. The various positions and roles of YSBS did not affect the development process and the local participation. It is because of the goals of the implementation of the YSBS projects, that is, to improve the local accessibility and economic welfare.

6.

Outcomes/Impacts The implementation of the YSBS infrastructure projects during 2006-2012 has

brought significant outcomes to the communitys knowledge, specifically on the

19

strategy to plan and to implement the rural infrastructure projects. Their knowledge will be very beneficial someday when they have to build and manage their own infrastructures, either independently or financially-supported by the government. The implementation of the YSBS projects will also foster respectful attitudes towards the values of the projects. The community learns feasibility, technology, and the process of construction and utilization of the rural infrastructures, especially about the village streets, canals, or dams. Through this kind of implementation, they learn also about constraints and opportunities within their own community. They can also
The street infrastructure project, materially and financially assisted by YSBS, in my village, is very beneficial to the local people. It really helps smooth many local activities, like going to the paddy field, visiting relatives, doing any social activities, or traveling outside the village. The street infrastructure program in my village is almost finished. It is about 2 more kilometers to be done. The materials supported by YSBS are rocks and sand. The procedure for requesting such materials support is quite simple. We just contact or submit a proposal to YSBS. The materials support will be allocated soon after the proposal is approved. (Kukuh, Bulusari) Most of the villagers work as penderes of brown sugar or brown sugar tapper. The number of both their agricultural products and brown sugar production are increased following the street construction. The opportunity to reach any farer places to tap the sugar palm trees is also increased. The YSBS infrastructure projects have also improved the local accessibility to public services like health, education, and government. People must once cross over the river to meet the midwife, for example, but now it is getting easier. Going to school becomes easier for students, too. They can now go by motorcycle. It also leads to high mobility. Many villagers now own motorcycles. The local income has been also increasing. The villagers are now able to try trading rather than depending on farming. (Parsiyah, Watukumpul)

learn to identify problems in the infrastructures construction and how to solve them. The implementation of the YSBS projects has encouraged the community to work collectively, either in the planning process, proposal submission, or in the project implementation. This mechanism has constituted the atmosphere of trust and reciprocity and it has also strengthened the social networking. Those principles of social cohesion might have been developed in the community before, in fact, the YSBS projects have made them stronger. Some isolated villages, for example, now begin to be accessible. The villagers are able to interact with the others outside their village. The accessibility to the villages has also given stimulus to the people outside the village to come and stay there. Most of the incomers are then trading there.
20

Therefore, the YSBS projects do not only facilitate the local people to interact with the incomers, but also facilitate them in economic transaction. The local accessibility to any public services, such as health and education services, has also improved. From the interview, 61.1% of the respondents said that
The street construction supported by YSBS during 2006-2012 is Panebasan Street. This street is an alternative passing street in the centre of village. In the construction, YSBS supports the materials supplies (sand and rocks), whereas the Cilacap Government supports asphalting the street. YSBS itself begins to enter Ciklapa in 2002. YSBS is introduced to the people by those who have relation with YSBS, those who have financially supported by YSBS before, or those who have previously organized collaborative program with YSBS, such as food-for-work and nutrition improvement programs. Afterwards, the local government manages to submit a proposal to YSBS. Fortunately, YSBS positively responds it. The submission procedure is done by the village officials and is approved by both the local community (villagers) and the local stakeholders (local officials and sub-district officials). The proposal is then directly delivered to the YSBS office for later approval and realization. This submission procedure is quite simple. However, the proposal has to contain information about the background and the objectives of the infrastructure projects as well as the capability to supply collective human resources in the implementation process. The number of local householders in Ciklapa Village is 2376 persons with 836 persons among them are the beneficiaries of governmental rice-for-the-poor program. Farm is their major livelihood. Besides farmer, there are also bricks industry, and food home industry, such as lantinga kind of traditional snack made from cassava, tempe and tahukinds of traditional side dishes made from soybean. Since the street access constructed, the local livelihood is likely to be changed, too. The bricks and food industries, for instance, are developed. The local fishermen now turn into farmers due to the reduced number of fishes following the sedimentation. The access to the farming field is now accessible. (Head of Ciklapa Village)

the local accessibility to the health services was getting better whereas 80.4% of the respondents said that the accessibility to education services was still the same. YSBS itself has developed many rural health and education services, particularly on the integrated health service and playgroup (pre-school) institution. Those programs have been involved in the rural empowerment program in some villages in Cilacap District. In its practice, most of women actively participated and they were highly supported by the local government. The integrated health service management has also improved since the village is accessible (due to the street construction). It is now

21

easier for them to provide better medical resources, such as midwives, medicines, and medical personnels. Meanwhile, for the playgroup or pre-school institution, they can get access to certain governmental institutions or any related external institutions (donors). The YSBS infrastructure projects, including the street, canals, and dams, have however led to the improvement of the local economic growth. The accessibility has also opened the communitys opportunity to market their products outside their region and developed small home industries (such as red bricks industry). From the interview, the data shows the outcomes of the projects in three major sectors; agriculture, husbandry, and fishery sectors. For the cultivation in all three sectors, the improvement shown is 30.5%. For the product-processing and marketing are respectively 25.6% and 21.9%. For the other sectors, such as small industry, crafting, and trading, the improvements are respectively 4.9%, 4.8%, and 12.3%. Kampung Laut Village shows a different case. In this village, the irrigation canals could be used to cover for about 80 hectares of paddy fields. Those covered ground was then turned into a new fertile field for agricultural activities. Each hectare of those fields could produce for about 5 tons of the un-hulled paddy. The selling price of the un-hulled paddy reached 4 million rupiahs a ton (in the year of 2012). Therefore, if each canal can produce 80 hectare field, it can earn 1.600 million rupiahs (minus 70 million rupiahs). Thus, its net earning can reach 1.530 million rupiahs. In the last three years, there have been six irrigation canals available. In other words, these six canals, as part of the infrastructure projects, can earn for about 9.180 million rupiahs. This formulation proves that the YSBS projects have successfully improved the local communitys asset and increased the agricultural products.

22

The target group of the YSBS infrastructure projects is actually not limited to the poor family but also all of the community members. One of the benefits of the projects is the improvement both in the local economy and capabilities. Me, myself, is one of the lantingkind of traditional snack made from cassavaproducer. I have been in the lanting production since 1987. I am also benefitted from the street project since it facilitates me to get the materials for lanting-making from Karangpucung. Before the street is constructed, I had to cycle by myself to Karangpucung, bringing back a quintal of cassava with me. But now the lanting material supplier can deliver it directly to my house. This easy access benefits me, of course. Once, I could produce lanting with only one quintal of cassava and now I can produce it with about 5 quintals of cassava. A quintal of cassava can produce for about 35 kilograms of lanting whereas the selling price of lanting per kilo is about Rp 10.000,00. Therefore, I opine that the YSBS infrastructure project should be continued since it can support the other facilities and infrastructures. However, the street construction project in my village is also supported by the local government (Mandiharjo, Ciklapa).

The illustration above also indicates that the agricultural production in the new paddy field has a better prospect. It also plays an important role as a future food stock. The plants cultivation in this area is initiated by the incomers. Meanwhile, the local livelihood was mainly in fishery, and as a result they still lacked of knowledge in farming and its management. The incomers, however, were mainly farming experts. That is why they did not need to take long time to yield a good crop. Now they have to work together with local people (indigenous) who are getting more attracted to farming activities. Local people have begun to realize that working as a farmer is more profitable than as a fisherman. As a matter of fact their income as a farmer is not so high and most of it is enough only to meet their daily basic needs. However, they suppose that their income from agricultural sector is more dependable than what they earned from fishing. The quantity of agricultural land is increasing; therefore, although there are more people who work as farmers, the incomers still have greater opportunities to work as a farmer. Most farmers in accretion ground have had a license (rights to use) as the requirement for ownership. There is no problem with accretion ground owned for housing, and even these residents have already paid the tax. At this time, the government of Cilacap District and the members of both House of Representatives and Regional Representative Council from the level of district to province are striving in order that the accretion ground become peoples property. In fact, most
23

farmers do not have sufficient venture capital to carry out agricultural intensification and diversification. They are still categorized at subsistence level or farmers who work only to meet the family needs only. They sell their agricultural products but only at a small scale level, not at the level of large agribusiness sector. However, actually they have potential to promote an excellent agricultural productivity. Local community leaders and government said that the assets and capabilities of the regions where YSBS infrastructure projects were conducted could both be raised through empowerment programs which correspond to their interest and ability and deserve supports in the form of materials supply, fund, and assistance from the government. YSBS-aid road infrastructure project in Sidanegara village has been a stimulus for the residents to plant shade trees along the roadside. Peoples awareness not only has supported the greening program but also preserved environmental sustainability and plant diversity. Besides, this activity has been able to prevent environmental damage. Similar activities were also found in other villages where YSBS infrastructure projects were conducted. The problem now is on how to motivate the local community to persistently preserve the shade trees. In addition, dyke infrastructure projects which were both funded and supplied by YSBS in the form of materials supply around Kampung Laut also prove to have been able to cope with floods. Before the dyke was built, the rice fields nearby were often flooded. Moreover, peoples rice fields were attacked by pest (snails). A respondent said that when snails attacked, the paddy was damaged, and the farmer incurred losses as the crop yield fell drastically. However, after YSBS built the dyke, floods can be prevented while pest snails can be exterminated, and consequently rice production then rises. The tendency of the increasing assets and capabilities is illustrated in the following diagram. Diagram 3. The Increase of Peoples Assets and Capabilities

24

The open access is marked by the equity and networking of local community with incomer and people from other regions. Economic growth is marked by the increase of assets and capabilities.

According to the diagram, lines A-C represents social and economic change without the implementation of YSBS infrastructure projects while lines B-D refers to social and economic change that occurs due to the implementation of YSBS infrastructure projects. Overall, YSBS infrastructure projects seem to have a significant impact on the increase of assets and capabilities; however, the increasing rate varies at the level of beneficiaries group. In some villages, the upsurge for the beneficiaries is relatively high while in some others, it is comparably small. The variation in the increase of asset and capabilities is pervaded by three factors. First, the local people have respected community leaders who can bridge domestic economic activities with businesses at a larger context. The leaders could pioneer creative insights and actions and intelligently take advantage of available infrastructures in the village to speed up economic activities. They interminably encourageed local people to participate actively in sustaining YSBS infrastructure projects in their village and to utilize the existing facilities in order to help improve economic activities. In contrast, the villages without any community leader appear rather dull. The people are less enthusiastic in taking advantage of the available infrastructures in their surroundings in order to boost their economy.

25

Second, the conduct of YSBS infrastructure projects has been synergized with infrastructure projects initiated and developed by the government. Therefore, the poor are likely to take more advantages in terms of better infrastructure services and a greater access. The implementation of the governments infrastructure projects is within PNPM Mandiri scheme. In this scheme, the civil society are given opportunities to submit a proposal filing for infrastucture development in their area through communitys forums based strictly on the guides or standard procedures published by the government for public purpose. In contrast, it can be seen that the development of assets and capabilities in the villages without such a synergy is prompted quite slowly. Thus, YSBS infrastructure project is often taken as the mainstay for promoting economic activities. Third, peoples ability to take advantage of all the opportunities and facilitaties constructed through YSBS infrastructure projects. Those who have skills in running small industries such as crafting and trading are more likely to be able to benefit from all the opportunities created out of the infrastructure projects, particularly streets paving program by YSBS. Meanwhile, those who work as farmers benefit from the infrastructure only in that it accomodates their social interaction.

4. Effectiveness In some villages, community leaders, village officials, and government authorities provided intense supports to YSBS infrastructure projects; thus, all the problems that got in the way could immediately be solved. In some others, the participation was quite low though the work could still be finished on the due date or targeted time. Overall, there are three important factors ensuring that the whole process in YSBS infrastructure projects could run very well and satisfy the peoples needs. First, during its implementation, YSBS infrastructure projects were complemented with comprehensive information about the plan and type of project, materials supply provided by YSBS, location of the project, and timeline plus the progress report of the project. YSBS staffs were active both in informing the local community on the plan and implementation of the project and in consulting with

26

local community leaders in order to get insights and suggestions. Second, most of the people were overt in that they welcomed the aids by YSBS voluntarily or without any suspicion. They did not suspect that the materials provided by YSBS was part of the efforts to spread religious doctrine or any political interests. They were convinced that all aids from YSBS were part of the program to augment the assets and capabilities of the poor. Third, throughout the infrastructure projects, YSBS involved local community leaders and institutions. These community leaders and institutions were able to bridge between what the local people needed and how YSBS intended it to be.
The infrastructure built by YSBS in this region is dyke. The dyke construction was started in 2011. The dyke was done by elevating land, and it has functioned to prevent the river water from overflowing to the housing areas and rice fields when it flooded. In fact, floods along the riverside occur almost every year. Every time the river overflew, the water got into peoples houses and drown the rice fields. After this dyke was built, floods that regularly occured at the end of the year no longer entered peoples houses. The dyke construction was finished in 2012, but actually the project was not totally accomplished. The access road was not yet paved and thus still often muddy. For the local community, the dyke and access road constructions have enabled access to other facilities. In the past two years, the electricity could be generated to the houses around the dyke although the utility pole was not yet available. I have no idea how many proposals were submitted and approved by YSBS. I also dont know the procedures of the proposal submission. I only know that dyke was built upon the need of the local community. I dont know how much money YSBS had spent to pave the streets. The local people only helped to provide the workers (human resourcces). People were not levied or charged for anything. The workers were given incentives; and I got salary working on the dyke. The salary was prepared by YSBS and then handed over to the workers through the village head. In its implementation, there were field supervisors from YSBS who monitored the whole process of the projects. I dont understand the strategies applied by YSBS. I only got the information from village officials that a dyke would be built in this area. I was told by the officials to work on the dyke construction project together and I would be paid for this (Kusnadi, Ujung Gagak)

The information about the plan and implementation of YSBS infrastructure projects was often delivered to the community leaders and village officials only. And YSBS expected that the information would then be spread to everybody in the village. However, in practice, the information was not shared to the other residents as it was difficult to do. A number of respondents said that they did not know much about the process and progress of YSBS infrastructure projects. Their knowledge about the projects was very limited or incomplete since most of them were only told

27

about the project by neighbors during informal meetings. Nevertheless, these respondents said that they were convinced that the infrastructure projects initiated by YSBS could be accomplished in accordance with the plan. In spite it all, in the future, this model of communication must be changed in order to avoid distortion of information which may occur. YSBS infrastructure projects were initiated with technology which was
Now the farmers can go to the rice fields either by bicycle or motorbike more safely and quickly. Another benefit felt is that the farmers can plant more crops easily and yield much more. Besides, in the past an ill-person had to be carried over together to Puskesmas (clinic). It took time to call mantri (nurse). The rate of mothers death at giving birth was high due to the difficulty of getting any medical help. During the process of road contruction, the staffs from YSBS informed about the kinds of sand and stone which were picked as the materias and about the road segments which were built. In my opinion, the materials used had not met the standard because the stone was classified into novel cadas stone. I thought it would be better if replaced with tasik stone. Tasik stone is made of hardened lava. I had tried this and found it was very effective, and the quality is the same as that of galunggung stone (Ahmad, Cisumur).

relatively easy to be adapted by the local people. For example, the road infrastructure projects in the village were done by compacting sands and stones in layers. The first pile of sand and stone functioned as the base layer. When it was considered to be compacted, another pile of sand and stone was accumulated above it. This step was done several times until the street hardened and could be passed by vehicles. The practices in the field so far show that it was not too difficult to encourage the local people to participate actively in the process of road construction. . In some locations, YSBS provided such materials as cadas stone which was derived from the area where the project took place. There are some reasons why the project chose local stones as the road construction materials. First, the quality of the stones prove to be excellent or suitable for the road base. Stones from Jeruklegi Kulon village, for example, were easy to tie up, so it was hard to be shaken when utilized as the base. The tying-up technique pushed down or gave more pressure down to soil. In contrast, hard stone (basalt) was not only sharp but also hard to tie up, and as a result it could easily permeate into ground layer that made the street susceptible to damage. Second, by using local stones as the materials for road construction, a job opportunity was created for local people. They earned money that would add to family income. During the construction, the road infrastructure projects
28

were not supervised by a consultant or technician whose expertise is in paving the streets. Instead, the projects were only done by local people under YSBS supervision. Third, hard stone depot (basalt) was controlled by giant businesses, and as a result the price was relatively expensive. Therefore, using local stones was very economical, and the saved cost could be allocated to other expenditures. The respondents who were interviewed said that the road construction project would be better if supervised by a consultant and technician who know very well the condition of the grounds to be hardened. For swamp area, for example, it would be more effective if undertaken with moulding system and not only by piling up the layers of stones and sands. The tendency to choose conventional technology is also applied for YSBSaid canal infrastructure project. Based on the information collected, the building of the canal was initiated by the farmers awareness of the impact of the flood. The floods accumulated the sludge along the river stream and the swamp that had caused some areas to elevate and dry. Learning from such a condition, a number of local people had initiative to build canal to accelerate the process of elevating the swamp surface. By the presence of the canal, they expected that the mud would flow with air pressure or river stream during the flood. The pile of mud made the surface of the swamp elevate, and the crop could be grown again. YSBS provided materials supply and funds for building the canal which was initiated by the local people; and in 2011, six canals were successfully built. The technology applied during the construction was quite simple. It was commenced by the local community, so it was not too difficult to provoke them to participate actively in the process of provision and utilization of the canal. They had a chance to identify the problems that emerged and formulate the alternative solutions based on their local knowledge and capacity. In this context, the role of YSBS was quite effective especially in facilitating the people in order to develop their assets and capabilities through provision and utilization of the canal. Although the whole process of YSBS infrastructure projects starting from the proposal making up to the construction put forward active participation of the local community, women were not involved much. Mostly they only contributed to providing foods for men who worked.

29

8. Efficiency The respondents said that they were satisfied with YSBS infrastructure projects, and there are three factors behind their satisfaction. First, the aids provided by YSBS in order to accomplish the road and canal construction were not only the raw materials (sand and stone) but also fresh money which was distributed directly to the target community with simple procedures. The distribution was scheduled based on the timeline of the infrastructure project; therefore, the output was not too far from what had been set. Second, YSBS staffs gave a lot of inputs, ideas, and consultations so that the infrastructure projects worked as planned. Their ideas were easily understood by the people because these were often delivered in direct interaction (face to face) by involving community leaders and village officials. Third, YSBS staffs also lobbied or opened access to the government of Cilacap District and international funding agency (Mesireor) to support the implementation of infrastructure projects. The government of Cilacap District appreciated or honored the implementation of YSBS infrastructure projects. Such appreciation was actualized by the participation of the government of Cilacap District in paving the rural streets with asphalt. The government of Cilacap District warmly welcomed the ideas of upgrading the capacity of the canal because its contribution would be very significant in increasing the farmers income. The middle to upper-middle class people in the villages also participated actively to succeed YSBS infrastructure projects. Internally, they built social relations regardless of the difference in ideologies and religions. They had interwoven good communication and cooperation with people from different political affiliations or religious beliefs (without losing any identity) during the infrastructure projects. Such a relation was hardly developed in other programs which were not related with these infrastructure projects. Therefore, the success of YSBS infrastructure projects could not be separated from the success of social relation, that is, the strong social bond interwoven among the people, community leaders, village officials, the government of Cilacap District and YSBS staffs. These supports have made the whole process of YSBS infrastructure projects become more efficient than the top-down model of implementation in the village infrastructure projects which used to be initiated by the government.

30

The relation between YSBS and the government of Cilacap District was more likely to be impersonal than institutional, especially the relation between Romo Carolus and government authorities in the office of Cilacap District government. The relation between him and the regent of Cilacap District is very close. And their strong relation is remarkably beneficial for the project because the problems encountered during its implementation could be solved not only through formal meetings with strict references to formal regulations and rules but also through informal discussions which prioritized consensus. However, such kind of relation was attached closer to the person than to the system. Therefore, as most of the respondents said, it was difficult to distinguish YSBS as an institution and Romo Carolus as YSBS representative. Some respondents thought that YSBS was Romo Carolus while Romo Carolus was YSBS. For example, when Romo Carolus encouraged the local people to submit a proposal on the need for road construction in their village and then accepted the proposal, the respondents assumed that YSBS would automatically approve and grant the aids for them in the form of materials supply, funding and ideas which were necessary for the infrastucture development program. Sands and stones offered by YSBS were bought from the villages which are not too far from the location of the project. The price of the sands and stones was determined through concensus between YSBS and the owners. The price of sands and stones was not far different from that offered and sold elsewhere. The mining of sands and stones was undertaken by local workers who were paid daily. The payment rate was also not far different from that paid elsewhere. Therefore, the sand and stone procurement could be avoided from possible manipulation and labor exploitation. The mining activity was conducted in high transparency meaning that it was approved by village officials and community leaders. Based on the evaluation, It was found that some depots were ready for exploration in order to fulfill the needs for stones in YSBS infrastructure projects. Then the stones from the mining location were transported to the location of the infrastructure project by YSBS trucks. Such model of materials procurement was cheaper and more efficient for YSBS than if YSBS ordered the materials from other locations.

31

9. Sustainability The condition of some road segments in Kampung Laut looked miserable and severely damaged during the rainy season. It was caused by several factors. First, the road segment was built in the river sludge area that overflew Segara Anakan during the flood. As a matter of fact, YSBS had provided a lot of materials supply (stones and sands) dan funds for streets paving. However, because the piles of mud were too deep, the layers of stones and sands so far were unable to harden the rural streets there. Second, the road segment was in the middle of rice fields and quite far from the residents houses. The agreed consensus between the local people and YSBS was that the local people were fully responsible for the road construction and maintenance which were funded by YSBS. Since the road segment was far from anybodys houses, no one felt more responsible for any road damage. When there was any damage, people would ignore it and wait until the village officials or YSBS came to help. The road segment which was categorized as severely damaged was not much; however, inasmuch as it connected villages in Kampung Laut Sub-District, the mobility at the highway to Cilacap District was disturbed. Third, the government of Cilacap District gave less attention to the damage of the road segment. It was because the road segment was part of YSBS road infrastructure project which was built only upon an agreement between the local community and YSBS without governments involvement. The government of Cilacap District actually admitted that the road infrastructure project was beneficial for the people. However, since the status of the river sludge was still indecisive, the government of Cilacap District had not yet allocated budget for road maintenance. Consequently, they insisted that the maintenance of the road segment did not fully become the responsibility of the government of Cilacap District. Canal infrastructure projects have significantly increased the income of the residents in Kampung Laut. They used to work as fishermen but then switched to farmers, and these people rapidly changed swamps into productive farming land. However, there was a conflict between local people and regional government. The local government should have worked to manage the farming activities and avoid the people from monopoly and manipulation in agricultural sectors. The government should facilitate the farmers in order to improve the agricultural production. In

32

reality, however, the governments performance in assuring the function and role was very poor. The staffs from the government frequently said that ownership or right to use the land was not yet settled. Such a condition would lead to dispute in the future because the people would defend that they never benefited from the farming facilities provided by the government while the government would insist that they were not responsible for providing the facilities because the farmers cultivated the lands whose property rights was still indecisive. It was found that some farmers began to sell rice fields. The land boundary was determined by a concensus based on the custom rights when the land was still in the form of sea (Segara Anakan). The price of the land kept increasing from time to time because the land was fertile and productive. The buyer of the land was usually the incomer to the village who intended to invest in agricultural sector. The land cultivation was managed by the tenant farmers who came earlier to the land. Now the agricultural products in river sludge area can be relished not only by the local people but also the rich incomers. The process of land selling-buying was not carried out in accordance with formal procedures or regulations established by the government but only based on the agreement between the local residents and the incomers who had a lot of money. In 2011, six canal infrastructures were built in Pelindukan village (Kampung Laut). These infrastructures had successfully added to the expansion of new areal per rice fields as wide as 480 hectares. These new rice fields are very fertile. Without having to be ploughed or given fertilizers, each hectare has yielded crops approximately 5 to 7 tons of ungulled rice. The farming areal in this region continues to increase every year because mud from the upstream of the river constantly flows to this spot. The piles of sludge were impossible to be dammed up since reforestation and adjustment at the upstream did not seem to work well. The constant flow of the sludge could be a disaster since the stagnation made Segara Anakan more shallow. However, the local people had successfully turned the challenge caused by the sludge pile into opportunity to carry out farming activities. If handled seriously, it is highly possible that the village becomes one of the regions that are able to sustain food security. However, the problem is on the policy. The government should formulate and develop appropriate policies in order that the new rice fields cultivated on the

33

land whcih was formed after the piles of river sludge in some parts of Segara Anakan could be utilized to increase food production. The policy which needs to be upgraded in order to solve the problems includes strategic planning in terms of agricultural infrastructure management, farmers capacity reinforcement and commercial logistics development.

9.1.

Agricultural Infrastructure Management Agricultural infrastructure can be planned and built either independently by

the local community (especially farmer) or commonly called agricultural infrastructructure-based community or by the government with its capacity as formal institution that is responsible for public service obligation. There are two important functions of agricultural infrastructure. First, as a means for increasing agricultural products (growth domain). Second, as a means for getting access to various forms of quality services in cultivation, processing, and marketing the agricultural products (access domain) (Asian Development Bank, 2005, 54). In addition, the model of agricultural infrastructure management can be classified into three categories. First, agricultural infrastructure model with enabling principles. It means that the provision and utilization of the infrastructure have been planned, controlled, driven, and monitored by external institutions. The indication of such infrastructure management can be observed based on the technology used, provision process and its utilization, as well as the actors and characteristics of the institution which is responsible for the management. The model of technology applied can be derived from local peoples life experience which is inherited from one generation to the next generation. Some farmers may have applied it in order to support the cultivation process in sludge area. However, how the ideas are elaborated in order that the technology can be used to increase the collective productivity may be designed by external institutions. The institutions range from the government which is responsible for agricultural sectors to professionals from universities or nongovernment organizations which are concerned with activities like training and assistance related with agriculture. YSBS as a non-governmental organization with a strong commitment to alleviate poverty in villages can play its role. Hence, it can be seen that external institutions often play a dominant role in the process of provision and utilization of the infrastructures. They provide materials supply, funds and ideas
34

on agricultural infrastructures so that every aspect can function as expected. They may provide the farmers with opportunity in the process of provision and utilization of the infrastructures, but the farmers involvement is not beyond the formulation of decision making process. In the meantime, the final decision on which proper infrastructure technology should be used, when the infrastructure should be built, and who should build is left to the authorities and the sovereignty of the external institutions. Second, the model of agricultural infrastructure management with delegating principle. It means that the provision and utilization of the infrastructures are planned, controlled, driven, and monitored by the farmers themselves. The farmer is assumed to have sufficient knowledge, willingness, and ability about the technology to be utilized in order to develop the agricultural infrastructures in their areas. Farmers can understand the appropriate technology that should be applied. They can do mapping on the threats and opportunities related with the provision and and utilization of agricultural infrastructure in their areas. Therefore, they should be involved not only in the formulation of alternative solutions but also in the decision making in order to decide the proper infrastructure technology which should be used. This model of infrastructure management is not denying the role of the government, private and non-government organizations during the process of infrastructure provision and utilization. The institutions are still allowed to actively participate in the process, but their role is only as proponent, that is, providing materials supply, funds and knowledge that a farmer does not master. Third, agricultural infrastructure management model with empowering principle. It means that the provision and utilization of infrastructure are planned, controlled, driven, and monitored in the form of collaboration among farmer and goverment, private and non-government organizations (Craig, 2003). In this model, it is assumed that a farmer is not as strong as what is illustrated in the infrastructure management model with delegating principle but is also not as weak as what is illustrated in infrastructure management model with enabling principle. Therefore, agricultural infrastructure management can only work best when it is supported by collaborative works among farmer, government, private and non-government organizations. In this context, a farmer is given an opportunity to submit a proposal in order to obtain materials supply, funding and ideas which are relevant with the

35

provision and utilization of agricultural infrastructure. Meanwhile,

government,

private dan non-government organizations can provide materials supply, funds and ideas which the farmers need. For agricultural infrastructure model with empowering principle, accurate information, inclusion (ability to accept inputs or suggestions from external parties), farmers active participation, and local institution reinforcement. Information, inclusiveness, participation, and institution are needed to enable bargaining power, that is, the ability to refuse unnecessary things but at the same time accept things which are significant to improve the agricultural productivity.

9.2. Capacity Building Capacity is commonly defined as the ability to develop own potential and resources in order to reach certain goal (Adamson, 2008; Banks and Shenton, 2001; Chaslzin at al, 2000; January, 2001). Thus, the capacity of farmer around sludge area can be conceived as the ability of the farmer to develop the potential and utilize available resources to meet the needs of farmer cultivating the land around the sludge area, the ability of the farmer to identify a number of problems that occur and find the solutions, as well as the ability of the farmer to fully utilize and create opportunities in his environment. From the aspect of development process, the capacities can be divided into three categories. First, the capacity which is inherited from previous generation or local knowledge which is promoted through family and local institution. Second, the capacity which is initiated by the farmer based on his own work in practices when faced with various challenges on a daily basisor it is called learning by doing. Farmers of this type share information and learn together based on real experience in practice. Third, the capacity obtained from the other institutions, not only government but also non-government organization. The farmers attain more knowledges about the tips and strategies which are required in cultivating and farming activities in sandy ground. Such knowledge is obtained through counseling or focus group discussion. The capacity of farmer in this context includes personal, community, and system capacities in developing farming near river sludge. Personal capacities of a

36

farmer include knowledge, attitude, and skill in utilizing the resources owned or mastered in order to change or develop innovation and manage marginal land into sustainable productive land. Personal capacity includes the communication skill in solving a variety of problems which are faced related with the innovative actions and management of turning sludge-based land into land with high agricultural productivity as well as disseminating the ideas, knowledge, and relevant methods to fulfill the peoples needs. Another capacity is the community capacity that constitutes the ability to carry out collective actions in identifying various problems, to respond and adopt relevant ideas, knowledge, and methods to create innovation and manage marginal land into productive agricultural land. Community capacity also includes preparedness to build trust, reciprocal relationships, and networking among the farmers from the same and different villages and among the government and non-government organizations that can share knowledges and skills related with plant cultivation and marketing of the agricultural products from sludge area. The other capacity is system capacity which includes governance (institution management) that is able to facilitate the collaboration among the farmers, government and non-government organizations in making innovation and managing the marginal land into productive land, in cultivating and marketing the products. Capacity system also constitutes the ability to integrate local consensus, local wisdom and knowledge, regulations and methods or agricultural technology related with cultivation in sludge area and marketing of the products especially the horticultural products.

9.3. Commercial logistics Commercial logistics can be defined as a process of managing procurement, storage, and material distribution through effective organization networking in order to reach maximum economic benefits. In this context, the agricultural products from sludge area include unhulled rice, vegetables like chilli, tomatoes, eggplant, and watermelon or melon. At least there three important elements concerning the logistics of the crop production. First, the mechanism on how farmer makes plan, builds organization, actuates, and controls in order that the agricultural products can be saved very well, distributed precisely and immediately. Second, the clarity of

37

system facilitating the flow of agricultural products from producer to consumer (and vice versa), information flow on demand and order transmission, as well as financial flows especially related with payment requirements and schedule in terms of ownership and delivery. Third, infrastructure that facilitates the working of the mechanism and system can be accomodated by the farmers themselves (communitybased infrastructure) and supported by external parties (government and private institutions). Moreover, the efforts to develop commercial logistics can be done at least with three strategies. First, inventory strategy. This strategy is applied by collecting database on consumer demand (market) and the ability of the producer (farmer) in fulfilling the needs. According to economic proposition, the increase of consumer needs (demand is higher than supply) is generally followed by the rising price or mark-up while the increase of quantity of products which are not followed by the increase of consumer needs (supply is higher than demand) is generally followed by mark-down. That is why inventory strategy needs detailed and accurate observation in identifying demand and supply flow. Second, location strategy. This strategy requires mapping the quantity, size, and location of all the facilities which are needed to store and to distribute agricultural products as well as to boost the process of production and information related with demand, order transmission, system and schedule of delivery and payment. Location of the facilities must be easily accessed by the producer and consumers. In commercial logistics, location is one of the valuable components. Convenient location not only can make the economic activities work effectively and efficiently but also can lessen the possible decrease of quality. It can be a new location that is deliberately chosen for facilitating the farming in sludge areas or existing places, and it was long utilized by the farmers to sustain their activities. Wherever the location is, it must be able to prevent the agricultural products from possible loss of quality. Third, transport strategy. With this strategy, the models of transportation which are chosen must be relevant with the process of storing and distributing the agricultural products. They can range from public transports to private own transports. Whichever means of transportation used, it must be based upon the following principles: availability, adequacy, and accessibility. If several models of

38

transportations are available, commonly there should be a system which is built to enable all the transports to become a unit of facilities in the form of mutual networking.

10. Conclusions From the above explanations, it can be concluded as follows. 1. YSBS infrastructure projects from 2006 to 2012 included streets paving and the building of dyke, canal and dam. All the infrastructure projects were mostly the continuance of the previous YSBS infrastructure projects whose purpose is to alleviate poverty. YSBS infrastructure projects have significantly contributed to the increase of assets, the capabilities of access of the poor to all services for basic needs such as education, heath, agriculture, and trade. Moreover, although the target of YSBS infrastructure projects is the poor, people in general can also benefit economically and socially from the implementation of YSBS infrastructure projects. 2. During the process of planning and implementation of YSBS infrastructure projects, YSBS functioned as a partner and institutionalized the relationship as partnership. In its role as partner, YSBS helped people to identify infrastructural problems in their villages. YSBS assisted people in making the proposal filing the need for aids to build infrastructures that would involve participation from local community leaders and village officials. Then the proposal was sent to YSBS to be reviewed. After YSBS decided that the proposal was worth the aids, YSBS provided the grant in the form of materials supply and funds directly. YSBS also gave suggestions and assistance so that the whole process of the projects could run well. During the process, YSBSs role was often more dominant than that of the local society. Partnership between YSBS and the local people were more likely to be as enabling partnership than empowering partnership. Such a tendency emerged due to the condition of the local people or the target of YSBS infrastructure projects. These people did not have economic ability to build the required infrastructure construction. Peoples dependence on materials supply and funding from YSBS was relatively high.

39

3. YSBS infrastructure projects have added to peoples knowledge and experience about the techniques of identifying the significance of the projects, the methods of planning and conducting the infrastructure projects. Local people have known and learned more about all the problems related with the activities of paving the rural streets, building dyke to prevent flood and canal to elevate the river sludge, and the tips to change the sludge area into productive land. These experiences have made the people aware that rural streets, dyke and canal which have been built in their villages are invaluable facilities which could best function when built and utilized through mutual cooperation among the residents as well as institutionalized in a collaborative work among the local community, government, and non-government organization Also, people have begun to realize that they have greater

opportunities to use the facilities and resources that the government has allocated for public. 4. Materials supply and funds to support the implementation of YSBS infrastructure projects were directly provided with simple procedures and managed with high transparency, participation, and accountability. In its implementation, YSBS infrastructure projects utilized conventional

technology, local workforce which was driven by local community leaders and government. YSBS provided materials supply (sand and stone) which was bought from nearby villages with reasonable prices and was then distributed to the locations of the project by YSBS-own vehicles. High transparency, participation, and accountability have pushed the people and community leaders in the villages where YSBS infrastructure projects took place to build trust, mutual cooperation, mutual relationships, and social networking. However, based on the evaluation, it is found that most of the people found it difficult to differentiate between the role of YSBS and the role of Romo Corolus as YSBS representative. In the process of planning and implementation of infrastructure projects in certain villages, the role of Romo Corolus (as a broker) was far greater than the role of YSBS (as nongovernment organization). 5. Canal infrastructure project which received materials supply, ideas and funds YSBS have successfully extended river sludge area (Kampung Laut) and

40

contributed to the developmend of new productive rice fields. The rice fields have raised the agricultural productivity and the farmers income. This opportunity was chased by incomers who had skill in farming. Their success then inspired the local people to switch job from fishermen to farmer and gradually the local people dominated the agriculturalsector in river sludge. According to the regulations, new rice fields should be controlled by the government (Perhutani) and the land is non-transferable. However, since the local people regarded that they had the land ownership, they began to sell the lands to incomers or people from other villages. Such a condition gave a chance for the incomer to take control over the rice fields. Due to the unsettled status of ownership and rights to use of the land, it is susceptible to risk of conflict over land.

11. Recommendations 1. YSBS infrastructure projects on street paving in a number of villages can not only be reduced but also be stopped except in villages like Ujung Gagak and Panikel (Kampung Laut Sub-District). The streets are still badly damaged, especially during rainy season. If it is agreed that YSBS should participate to provide materials supply, funds, and workers to pave the rural streets, the role of YSBS as a partner for empowerment must be equal with the role of local community and government. The government of Cilacap District must be pushed to provide construction materials and allocate budget for paved road development and maintenance Kampung Laut sub-district. In other words, the local peoples dependence on construction materials aided and funded by YSBS must be reduced. 2. The extension of new rice fields in Segara Anakan is potential in sustaining food security program in Cilacap District. Local people can not only be facilitated but also be upgraded into a status of farmers. The capacity of the local people can be facilitated and increased into a level in which the farmer has the competence in cultivating, agricultural processing, and marketing the end products. YSBS can function to promote the programs such as providing and utilizing canal and pump to increase the volume of mud flow to swamp

41

and rural streets to enable peoples access to agricultural service. YSBS can also provide counseling and training to farmers, strengthen local institutions, and facilitate the farmers in making cooperation with other institutions from other places in order to develop logistics commercial. 3. YSBS participation in the activities to develop farming along river sludge must put forward a role model as partner which emphasizes empowering partnership. It means that the degree of aids from YSBS including materials supply, fund, and workers must be equivalent with the contribution of the local community, the government of Cilacap District or other stakeholders. In the efforts of developing agricultural productivity along river sludge area, the role of YSBS as an institution must be bigger than the role of YSBS staffs so that the sustainability of YSBS projects can be more guaranteed.

42

Você também pode gostar