The economic empowerment programme for coastal communities in North Jakarta, Indonesia: A preliminary assessment

Indonesia’s economic empowerment programme for coastal communities (PEMP) is a public programme with the objective of enhancing the wellbeing of poor coastal community households. Since its inception in 2001 and after several phases of improvement, the living conditions of the coastal poor households remain unchanged. This paper presents the findings of a study aimed at assessing the PEMP performance with regard to the mechanism used in managing the programme with special reference to the province of North Jakarta. Using official records and reports of various agencies available at faderal, kabupaten and kecamatan levels together with information gathered through field observation and indepth interviews with household heads and officers in charge , the study reveals four important findings: (1) Non- compliance and malpractices were prevalent among the implementing agencies at kabupaten and kecamatan levels; (2) Most of the loans, particularly Economically Productive Grant (DEP), had been given out to households members that were not poor; (3) Agencies such as the Cooperative of LEPP-M3 which was entrusted with improving the level of efficiency in managing the loans had also failed to live up to expectation; and (4) Many of the poor households remained ignorant and deprived of access to the loan facilities, and failed to pay back loans within the specified period. In conclusion, although the government has succeeded in implementing the PEMP, the overall performance of the programme may be considered weak and inefficient. A more appropriate policy, strategy and programme should be formulated to replace the PEMP.