New Zealand supports the initiatives of the GOI to improve governance and drive forward public sector reform programmes which enhance accountability and transparency, and effective and efficient use of resources. One project, to improve financial transparency and management in the Ministry of Finance, has entered project design phase. We believe that this approach represents a very effective delivery mechanism for providing development assistance to those communities most in need. Also in this sector, we are working to conclude our assistance to the successful Lombok Pottery Project, and are looking at a new project amongst Lombok s Sasak women weavers. The project focuses on integrated eco-tourism, conservation and community development, and has been designed to include technical assistance, mainly through training, to strengthen park management and develop park infrastructure towards the goal of assisting the social and economic development of selected rural areas and promoting sound conservation practices.
Humanitarian assistance complements the long-term projects.
Substantial grants have been made to UN agencies and international NGOs working in Maluku, West Timor, and Aceh. New Zealand is committed to assistance towards meeting the basic needs of communities affected by civil and economic dislocation, and encourages the GOI s continued efforts to find lasting solutions to these destabilising and debilitating issues.