Indonesia Corruption Watch supports Jakarta's new administration in providing budget oversight

Attesting to the strength and credibility of the Indonesia Corruption Watch (ICW), its leaders met with DKI Jakarta Mayor Joko Widido and Deputy Mayor Basuki Tjahaja Purnama (Ahok) just two days after they were sworn into office. ICW declared itself a partner to the new administration in providing independent oversight of Jakarta’s US$ 4.5 billion (Rp. 44 trillion) annual budget.

In January 2013, the Deputy Mayor officially asked ICW to oversee the city’s reorganization of its bureaucracy, and to provide independent oversight of its public procurement. ICW released a study with the National Goods and Service Procurement Policy Agency (LKPP) to show how e-procurement data can be used to prevent and detect corruption in March 2013. ICW has also paired up with Indonesia’s Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) to host a workshop on “Preventing conflict of interest in the public procurement of goods and services in DKI” held in August 2013.

The ongoing partnership between ICW and the nation capital’s government is making strides not only in Jakarta, but providing a strong model for civil society-government collaboration in combating corruption in the regions.