Women Strengthening Program of PERPAMSI in Cooperation with USAEP and USAID
Environmental change and growth of population have resulted in clean water becoming scarce and expensive. PDAM as the regional company supplying clean water is demanded to improve their service. While the internal problems which PDAM have to face are still quite complex so that it is difficult to meet the demand that the company should be consumer oriented. The problem faced by PDAM is company management. The Women Participation Program in improving clean water service is one of the alternative approach to the community through women's group that can be utilized by PDAM.

Photo: One of the activities of WILLOWS, Workshop on Women Participation in Improving Clean Water Service and Formation of Water Care Forum, with a participative training system (participants of workshop play an active role during the training) and experienced facilitators.

The objective of the program is the formation of clean water information system extended to the community through women's groups existing in respective areas. This information system may be realized in the form of cooperation with various parties who care about water and work together so that clean water is easily accessible and the continuity is sustainable. Women Participation Program in improving clean water service has been running in 3 phases.

First Phase
WILD (Women Institutions for Local Development) Program as pilot project carried out in June 2000 to September 2000; the program was carried out in 3 (three) locations i.e. Sleman (Yogyakarta), Banjarmasin (South Kalimantan) and Bukittinggi (West Sumatra), and the fund for the activity was provided by USAEP (United States-Asia Environmental Partnership).

Second Phase
WILD2 Program in January 2001 to September 2001 with financial aid by USAEP. The objective was trial testing WILD1 results methodology, to facilitate the formation of water care forum in 3 old locations and 4 new locations, publishing a manual about this program and getting assistance from other donors for producing information media about clean water.

Third Phase
WILLOWS (Women Institutions for Local Leveraging Water Services) Program which constitutes a follow up to WILD1 & WILD2 program, with work program October 2001 to March 2003. USAID (United States Agency for International Development) provided the fund for the activity. The objectives of the activity were: Media production, Training of Trainers, Regional Seminars and Formation of Forum in 30 locations.

The results achieved up to November 2002; production of media communication about clean water, i.e. in the form of teledrama - Sebening Hatimu - which was shown on Trans TV and Indosiar on World Water Day (22 March 2002); the documentary film about clean water processing entitled 'Perjalanan Panjangku'; 5 radio Commercials, 3 Television Commercials; posters and brochures. Training of Trainers was held in April 2002 in Yogyakarta with participants representing all regions of Indonesia. Regional seminar sabout PDAM Strategy for Improved Services in the Era of Consumer Protection in 15 locations throughout Indonesia and Women Participation Workshop in Improving Clean Water Service and formation of new forums in 14 locations, out of a target of 30 locations (WILLOWS Team/Nov. 2002).