CRS History in Indonesia
CRS has been operating in Indonesia since 1957 to assist the poor and the disadvantaged, and to strengthen people's capacity to become self-reliant. Initially, CRS focused on food-aid program to address food insecurity problems in certain parts of Indonesia through Food For Work, Health and Nutrition, and Income Generating Activity programs. The food-based programs continued until 1995.
During the period of 1995 to third quarter of 1997, CRS implemented non - food health and agriculture programs in East and West Nusa Tenggara, Lampung and West Kalimantan provinces. In 1996, CRS established PT Ukabima, local liability investment company that implements microfinance programs through Bank Perkreditan Rakyat (BPR) or rural banks.
When economic crises hit the country in late 1997, which was followed by El Nino - triggered drought, CRS launched a major USAID-supported Title II Emergency food program to assist the affected and vulnerable communities in Lampung, Central Java, Yogyakarta, West (NTB) and East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) provinces. In 1999-2000, the Indonesia program led the agency's effort to respond to the serious outbreak of violence in East Timor that occurred with the September 1999 UN-sponsored referendum to determine whether East Timorese wanted independence from Indonesia.
In 2000, CRS Indonesia conducted a Pre - Strategic Program Plan (SPP) assessment, which, based on the recommendation from the assessment team and given the volatile and unstable operating environment (social, economic, politic), resulted in the development of the country program Strategic Framework for 2000 - 2003. The six strategic themes are: (1) Building Peace and interfaith harmony; (2) Combating socio-economic injustices; (3) Enhancing partnership collaboration; (4) Expanding Capacity Building efforts; (5) Improving Emergency Preparedness, and; (6) Improving Management Quality.
In 2001, upon the completion of the Title II Emergency food program, CRS started a USAID/FFP - supported Transitional Activity Program (TAP) in Central Jawa and Yogyakarta provinces, and Flores and Sumba islands in the East Nusa Tenggara Province. In the same year, CRS also opened a new field office in Jakarta to better manage the programs in Sumatera, West Kalimantan and Central Java (non TAP).
In 2002, CRS started a major Emergency and Relief Assistance for Madurese IDPs in West Kalimantan, supported by USAID/OFDA, UN-WFP and UN-OCHA. To allow effective monitoring and technical assistance to both local partner and the IDP population, CRS Indonesia established a satellite office in Pontianak, the capital of West Kalimantan.
As of May 2003, CRS had a total of 12 expatriate and 127 national staff working in the 5 offices.
In 2004-2005 CRS launched the largest rehabilitation effort in the organization's history, with $128 million committed to a five-year recovery effort in Aceh after the catastrophic earthquake and tsunami of December 2004. CRS commenced a $2.9 million response to the May 2006 earthquake in Yogyakarta that resulted in more than 5,700 deaths.
