The Indonesian government is taking a significant step towards providing clean water to 40 million people through the Indonesia Water Fund (IWF). The ambitious target is to ensure that every citizen in Indonesia has access to clean drinking water and suitable housing by the year 2030.
During a workshop on the World Water Fund held on Monday (5/2/2024), Herry Trisaputra, the Director-General of Infrastructure Financing for Public Works and People’s Housing (PUPR), unveiled the government’s plan. The IWF, armed with approximately US$1 billion or around Rp 15 trillion in funding, is dedicated to financing projects aimed at delivering clean water. The program’s primary objective is to broaden access to clean water across various regions in Indonesia.
Herry emphasized the significance of this initiative, stating, “This is a valuable opportunity for us to explore and organize the principles within the Global Water Fund.”
The ongoing discussions within the government revolve around the coverage and scale of financing through the Global Water Fund. The areas of focus include modeling and operational strategies to facilitate access to clean water. The proposals encompass a wide range of aspects within the Global Water Fund, such as water infrastructure, disaster response, water-related crises, adaptation to water changes, and supervision.
Herry explained, “So, the objective and utility of this funding are the scope of financing, its size and scale, and a broader financing framework.”
The global water crisis remains a pressing issue, with 2.2 billion people, representing half of the world’s population, still lacking access to clean water. Hence, there is a crucial need for increased attention and investments to counteract the adverse impacts of climate change and ensure water cleanliness.
Herry emphasized the urgency, stating, “Currently, less than 3% of the total climate change funding is allocated to projects related to water and sanitation.”
In parallel, the Ministry of Public Works and People’s Housing (PUPR) has set a parallel target. They aim to provide all Indonesians with access to clean drinking water and suitable housing by the year 2030. Agus Sulaiman, the Director of System Development and Financing Implementation Strategy at the Ministry of PUPR, conveyed this during the “ESG Industry Consultation” event on Thursday (1/2/2024).
“Based on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), the Ministry of PUPR targets the provision of sustainable clean water and sanitation for all by 2030,” he stated. As both the IWF and the Ministry of PUPR strive towards these crucial goals, the nation anticipates transformative changes in ensuring a better quality of life for its citizens.
