Aceh Community Assistance Research Project (ACARP)

Background

The earthquake and tsunami of December 26, 2004 was the largest natural disaster in living memory. Aceh, Indonesia, was hardest hit with almost 170,000 people killed and over 500,000 people internally displaced. The humanitarian relief challenges were enormous, and made more difficult by the 30 year long conflict between the Government of Indonesia (GOI) and the Free Aceh Movement (Gerakan Aceh Merdeka - GAM).

The challenges and efforts immediately following the disaster have been well documented and researched. The transition to peace, longer-term reconstruction, and development have been less investigated and understood. Consequently, in July 2007 a number of donors and NGOs came together with the Government of Indonesia to undertake a research project that would lead to better understanding of the transition and reconstruction phases of assistance to Aceh. The Aceh Community Assistance Research Project (ACARP) brought together AusAID, UNDP, Oxfam, CRS, the World Bank, Muslim Aid, Syiah Kuala University and the Executing Agency for the Rehabilitation and Reconstruction of Aceh and Nias (BRR) in a joint effort to identify what worked and what did not. The study "The Acehnese Gampong Three Years On" brings to the fore important lessons for the international community in responding to large-scale disasters in a conflict region, especially in the transition from emergency efforts to long term development.

Description

The study gives the perspective of victims of the tsunami and focuses on the impacts, successes and failures of programs in governance, livelihoods, housing and infrastructure sectors. Issues of program design, modality, leadership, decision-making, women's participation, and transparency and accountability. The various approaches are dealt with candidly and demonstrate stark contrasts in impacts that bring lessons to all agencies involved the Aceh post-tsunami peace and reconstruction effort. Analysis focuses both on the distinctions and diversity, as well as the commonalities between communities' experiences. The findings and conclusions are divided into three sections: Governance, Livelihoods and Livelihood support, and Housing and Infrastructure.

One of the most interesting key findings of the study is that local leadership emerges as the key determining factor differentiating more successful from less successful village recovery. The role of Keucik (Village Head) is particularly important in Acehnese communities in relation to Decision-making and Problem Solving in the villages.

"The Acehnese Gampong Three Years On" report is available for download here [PDF 4.83 MB].

This page was last updated on 14 April 2008