The Japanese Government has supported IBEKA’s activities through grass-roots grant. While the amount of the grant is relatively small (less than US$100,000), the fund is transmitted either directly to the community or via NGOs. This system is very effective in providing flexible and direct benefit to the community. The NGO and the community bear the responsible to use the funds properly based on the community needs such as electricity, clean water supply, rooms for school, etc.

Indonesia ratio electrification is relatively low (54%). Many areas do not yet have access to electricity and such local communities live in darkness. IBEKA has been working with the local communities to develop micro-hydroelectric power and to empower them to improve their livelihoods.

In 1996, IBEKA received Japanese grass-roots grand aid to build micro-hydro power plant in Simanau, Solok, West Sumatera. With this grant aid, IBEKA worked together with the local community to plan and construct the micro-hydro power plant. It also provided training on how to maintain the power plant. Through this process, the villagers developed their capacity to run and maintain the power plant by themselves. In addition, they use the water for irrigation and the revenues from selling the surplus electricity to PLN to build clinics and to improve local infrastructures. Today the micro-hydro power plant is still running in full strength and is a source of important revenue for the community.

While Japan's ODA supports development of large scale infrastructure such as power plants, roads and railroads for promoting economic activities, small-scale projects in rural areas such as micro-hydro electric power plant, building small bridges in the village, providing clean water supply, building schools at community level can improve the welfare of the local community effectively. These small-scale projects are effective if they empower the people by using the “community based approach". I thank the Government of Japan for supporting rural development through the "community-based approach".

Ms. Puni (left) interviewing the handicap operator (right), how he managed the micro hydro system to electrify the community. (Paninjauan village, South Solok, West Sumatra)	With the Simanau village community who's been received the Japanese Grass Root Grant Aid to build micro hydro power plant in 1996.