Ex-post Evaluation

1.1 Background of the Project

In 1981, Japan implemented grant aid and project-type technical cooperation for seven years at the Construction Guidance Service Center in Indonesia to improve the agriculture base and contribute to the dissemination of irrigation facility construction technology for the purpose of increasing food production. An additional two years of aftercare cooperation was implemented in 1990. However, because an emphasis was placed on construction management technology, other important field such as design, maintenance, and a general information/database system were not initially subject to cooperation.

Against this backdrop, the Government of Indonesia, based on the result of the project, decided to reorganize the Construction Guidance Service Center, a center that focused on construction techniques, into the Irrigation Engineering Service Center (IESC), which handles the entire spectrum of irrigation technology, and thereby aim to improve the level of Indonesia's irrigation technology based on a consistent technological system. For this purpose, Indonesia asked Japan for project-type technical cooperation.

1.2 Project Overview

(1) Overall Goal

To establish in Indonesia appropriate irrigation projects, in which irrigation establishments are appropriately maintained, managed, repaired and renovated.

(2) Project Purpose

To develop the needed technology standards for the implementation of the irrigation projects, and to establish a structure for dissemination.

(3) Outputs

1) To create three fields of technology standards: "Investigation, Planning and Design", "Operation and Maintenance", and "Rehabilitation and Up-grading".
2) To create guidelines and manuals for these three fields
3) To implement training at the IESC geared towards irrigation technicians.

(5) Inputs

Japanese side:

Indonesia side:

3.1 Summary of Evaluation Result

(1) Impact

The guidelines and manuals resulted from IESC project (P&D, O&M, R&U) has been disseminated to some irrigation institutions and implemented in some irrigation projects in Indonesia. The irrigation projects activities in planning and design, operation and maintenance, rehabilitation and upgrading become easier and cheaper than before since the guidelines and manuals complement to the existing guidelines. The established irrigation projects are become appropriately maintained, managed, repaired and renovated. From the facts, it can be concluded that the Overall Goal of the IESC project has been highly achieved.

The other positive impacts are: (i) transfer of knowledge and technology from Japanese experts to Indonesian counterpart was running well and they continue to disseminate the knowledge and technology to their colleagues in water resources institutions; (ii) some water resources institutions such as Experimental Station for Irrigation, province irrigation services, irrigation projects and even water user associations have improved their capabilities in planning and design, operation and maintenance, and rehabilitation and up-grading. There is no negative impact observed during the evaluation study.

The influencing factors which enhance the achievement of project purpose and overall goal are high spirit of the Indonesian counterparts and full support of the concerned irrigation institutions in implementing the IESC project and applying the result in real irrigation activities.

(2) Sustainability

The Experimental Station for Irrigation in Bekasi under management of Research Institute for Water Resources, MSRI in Bandung continuously conducts the dissemination and training of irrigation activities and use some equipments procured under IESC for their daily activities. The Secretariat of DGWR, MSRI take care some other equipments for continuously conducts dissemination and training of water resources activities in the frame of Public Information Guidance Sub-project. The province irrigation services disseminate the guidelines and manuals to district irrigation services and apply it in managing the irrigation schemes. In view of institutional and outcomes, it can be concluded that the IESC project purpose and overall goal are highly sustainable.

The outcomes of the project which technologically appropriate to the requirement of irrigation development policy become the influencing factor which supports the sustainability of project purpose and overall goal.

(3) Others

Due to change organization of Ministry of Public Works to be Ministry of Settlement and Regional Infrastructure, most of the IESC Staffs has been scattered in some water resources institutions, but mostly working in the sector of water resources or irrigation and disseminate the knowledge gained from the IESC project to their colleagues.

The transfer of technology continues among the ex-counterpart of IESC project and their colleges and their working discipline as well as mind frame has been improving.

They keep contact and coordinate with the concerned institutions in conducting their activities in water resources sector.

3-2 Factors that have promoted project in the aspect of:

(1) Impact

The Experimental Station for Irrigation, Province Irrigation Services and irrigation projects are highly enthusiastic in dissemination and applying the guidelines and manual. Even the character or law level of the guidelines and manuals is still in recommendation basis, the guidelines and manuals are widely applied in general and specific conditions due to easy and practical in implementation. In future, when the law status of guidelines and manuals become SNI (Standard National Indonesia) which has the power to enforce the implementation, the project impact will be more promoted.

(2) Sustainability

There are still irrigation institutions such as Experimental Station for Irrigation and Irrigation Services that take place the role of IESC project. Most of the ex-counterpart of IESC project work in the Experimental Station for Irrigation and other irrigation institutions continue to provide training on irrigation activities.

(3) Others

The change of irrigation authority due to decentralization system pushes the regional irrigation institution to improve their institutional and human resources capability for managing the irrigation schemes.

3-3 Factors that have inhibited project in the aspect of:

(1) Impact

After completion of the IESC project, a system for dissemination and application of the guidelines and manuals has been set up. However, due to budget constraint, only some provinces can be included in an annual program.

Due to implementation of the regional autonomy, the change of structure and personnel some times cut the link or networks that have been established before.

(2) Sustainability

The guidelines and manuals have been applied in the field; however, a clear system for monitoring the application has not been established yet in each local government's irrigation services.

Lack of financial resources in local governments' irrigation services caused less smooth dissemination and implementation of the guidelines and manuals.

(3) Others

Change of organization of the Ministry of Public Works to be Ministry of Settlement and Regional Infrastructures caused some person in charge for irrigation institutions move to other sectors. The networks established during the project implementation become weak.

3-4. Conclusion

The project highly achieved the purpose and overall goal. Experimental Station for Irrigation and some other irrigation institution under DGWR and local governments continue to disseminate and apply the guidelines and manuals resulted by IESC project. It can be concluded that the IESC project has highly impact and sustainability.

The impact will be more promoted by improvement of law status, additional financial support and establishment of monitoring system for implementation of the guidelines and manuals.

3-5. Recommendations

To extent the impact and sustainability of the project, the following recommendations is suggested to the Government of Indonesia through the DGWR:

(1) Impact

The status of guidelines and manuals should be up-graded from voluntary to be compulsory as National Standard issued by BSN (National Standard Agency). The guidelines and manuals should be included in the contract documents of irrigation projects implementation.

(2) Sustainability

It is required to establish strong coordination among the institutions concerned in monitoring the application of guidelines and manuals. Feedback taken from the problems encountered during the implementation should be inputted for improving the guidelines and manuals.

It is required to develop the services of Experimental Station for Irrigation by providing Outdoor Laboratory for Irrigation Scheme Model. The laboratory might be used for training practical in planning and design, operation and maintenance as well as rehabilitation and upgrading.

It is required to develop such kind of Irrigation Information Center which functioning for development of irrigation information service website, and dissemination of applied irrigation technique.

3-6. Lessons Learned

In formulating the project design, it should consider the system for disseminating the project benefits and to establish strong coordination for monitoring the impacts, problems encountered and getting feedback for improvement of the project.

3-7. Follow-up Situation

The DGWR continues the activity of IESC project by implementing Empowerment of Water User Association Project in satellite model area in South Sulawesi.

The Experimental Station for Irrigation in Bekasi continues to conduct trainings, seminars and workshops for disseminating the technical standards, manuals and guidelines, attended by the provinces and districts irrigation services staffs.