Zeric went to Papua long, long ago

Papua and West Papua Provinces are by far the poorest parts of Indonesia.  USAID works intensively there and I am lucky to be playing a lead role in our efforts to improve lives in these culturally rich but economically and security challenged places.  Just around 4 million people, the population is close to 2 percent of Indonesia's total, but because of civil unrest and autonomous sentiment, as well as an impressive natural resource base, the provinces occupy an important place in contemporary Indonesian political calculations.  After all, if Indonesia can't figure out how to manage the grievances of Papua, it will be hard pressed to project itself as a modern and successfully 21st century democracy and world leader.  

 A couple months ago we went to monitor a number of USAID programs and to meet with government and NGO partners.  Here we saw a warehouse full of books ready for teacher training and then delivery to students in the extensive mountain highlands surrounding the town of Wamena.

A school was being built directly next to the school that USAID has supported for the past 2 years showing that is is possible to induce state investment and participation even in the most isolated of villages when community priorities, state obligations, and donor resources work together.

Hey, that's MY hat!

Zoey really wanted me to bring home a couple of penis sheaths for our collection, I just could not find the perfect fit...

1.      Papua Government-USAID Launches KINERJA Program (Cenderawasih Pos 1/23); Provincial Government Boosts Health Service (Cenderawasih Pos 1/23); SERASI Program Concludes in Papua (Cenderawasih Pos 1/23)

On Tuesday, USAID, in cooperation with the Papua regional government, launched the KINERJA Program at an event in Jayapura attended by 150 guests, including the acting governor of Papua. "The three-year USAID-KINERJA project will involve US$8 million and is targeted to improve health management, especially in handling mother and child health, HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis," said Dr. Zeric Smith, USAID's deputy director for democracy and governance. The event also celebrated the conclusion of USAID's SERASI program in Papua.

A student boarding house which we have supported to improve conditions for young people who have moved to the district capital to continue their schooling.

Indigenous peoples and non-indigenous sun glasses.

See the solar panel on the roof of the hut?

Yummy! Spicy fried gold fish for lunch.  Lucky for me Jaffa isn't reading this blog yet... she would KILL me!

zks