EU Funds Boost Livestock Development, Social Welfare in NTT
Kupang. The European Union's ambassador to Indonesia, Vincent Guerend, visited Tesiyofanu village in South Central Timor, East Nusa Tenggara, on May 30.
Along with district head Paulus Mella, Guerend witnessed the inauguration of Tesiyofanu as a "Model Ranch Village," allowing the village to receive EU aid through the livestock development project, named "Strong Civil Society Organizations for Inclusive Livestock Value Chain Development [Scild]," implemented by Plan International Indonesia.
The 1 million euro ($1.13 million) project was first initiated in March 2016 and is planned to encompass more than 40 villages on the island of Timor.
According to data from the country's Central Bureau of Statistics (BPS), informal economy workers make up nearly 80 percent of all earners in the East Nusa Tenggara province. Rising levels of school dropouts and a lack of available jobs have contributed to the spike in low-skill workers in the area.
"Four out of five workers in the province do not have good social security. If this problem is not addressed, it has a potential to have negative social impacts," Plan International Indonesia official Mingming Remata Evora said on a visit to a youth development project.
"This project focuses on strengthening the capacity of organizations or community groups to assist villages and young people, especially women," Mingming added.
Guerend said: "I am very happy to see the progress of this project [...] thanks to the collaboration and cooperation between the provincial and district governments, community groups, village apparatuses and youth groups.
"Scild can achieve support to improve the livelihoods of young people, especially women, through the livestock sector."
The initiative is expected to reduce poverty and prevent young people from traveling abroad in search of work. According to Guerend, women need to be given the opportunity to find work locally, so they are not forced to become domestic workers overseas.
To implement the project, Plan International Indonesia has worked with two local partners, including the Sanggar Suara Perempuan Foundation (YSSP) and the Workshop on Village Empowerment and Development Advocacy group (Appek). The Scild project involves eight other community groups in the province targeted to help young people develop the local livestock sector.
Grants of nearly $57,000 have been given to each community organization and is expected to directly benefit up to 2,000 young people, 65 percent of whom are women.
By the beginning of May, 328 cows, 661 pigs and 468 chickens have been distributed to young farmers in five districts. Profits from livestock products are expected between August and September this year.
"The profits gained from the sale of livestock will be directly acquired by young people, as capital for the development of their livestock businesses. The results are also used to meet the needs of daily living, or for their savings," Mingming said.
In addition to distributing livestock, Plan International Indonesia provides soft skills training and organizational capacity strengthening in livestock management.
Tags: Keywords: