A diverse set of water challenges and opportunities
The Indonesian archipelago is home to 261 million people, spread across over 17,500 islands. As the fourth most populous country in the world, Indonesia’s water challenges are as diverse as its geography and population. Furthermore, the distribution of water and population are unevenly distributed: the island of Java contains over 50 percent of Indonesia’s population, but only 4 percent of its available surface water resources.
Indonesia is facing a series of water management challenges as water infrastructure and services have struggled to keep pace with population growth, demand and development. As Indonesia puts into place both legal and governance mechanisms to implement best practices in Integrated Water Resource Management, it is drawing upon support from the international community.
Australia’s collaborative approach to supporting water management in Indonesia
In December 2017, an Australia-Indonesia Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed by the Department of Agriculture and Water Resources of Australia (now Department of Agriculture) and the Ministry of National Development Planning of the Republic of Indonesia with the objective of strengthening the cooperation between Indonesia and Australia in water resources and agricultural development, and to improve processes of planning, programming and project preparation. The agreement focuses on water resource management, agriculture, irrigation, water supply and sanitation.
AWP Indonesia support
The Australian Water Partnership (AWP) works collaboratively with DFAT, its International Partners, and the Government of Indonesia in order to provide demand-led support for the complexity of challenges facing water management in Indonesia. The AWP is also extending programs in country that have been applied elsewhere in the Indo-Pacific region.
In support of the 2017 MoU, AWP is building foundations with government partners and collaborating on identifying critical issues. Australia’s water reform experience presents an opportunity to assist Indonesia in progressing the management of its water resources in sustainable and inclusive ways. In addition, AWP looks to extend existing activities that have had demonstrated success in nearby countries into Indonesia where suitable and appropriate.
Indonesia Portfolio
Indo-Pacific Water Stewardship Project
This activity, beginning in early 2019 and running through to 2022, is the second phase of the Alliance for Water Stewardship (AWS) Water Stewardship Program.
Australia-Indonesia Water Utility Improvement Program
Transferring management expertise, technology, and personnel between three Australian water utilities and three Indonesian water utilities.