A contrarian mindset, the more land released the more houses built

I said those words in the UNDP workshop at Swissbel Hotel Banda Aceh in November last year. As a speaker at that workshop, I shared our experience on land issues amongst the NGOs.

Before Aceh reconstruction commenced, NGOs gathered to discuss one of the main important issues which is land division. In the meeting coordinated by UN, the NGOs pledge their commitment to the government. At that time in high spirits many NGOs promised to build a large number of houses in their area. The area, which is the land, which was entrusted for them as their working area. Some NGOs received larger areas to engage than others. The bigger the commitment, the bigger the area received.

The time went on and problems emerged. The reconstruction process is not easy work. The problem of transportation, un-cooperated beneficiaries, unprepared local government, short of material for construction, are some difficulties which hamper the reconstruction progress. Those create frustration. And to add the annoyance, it was found out that some NGO received the same area with other NGO. It is an overlapping area.

The problem of the overlapping area is the NGO and/or the community wants only one NGO who is working in their village. I believe this is good. This condition can reduce the jealousy which produces by dissimilar benefit that they can get from different NGO. The NGO will have more room to apply the terms and conditions according to their mission on community development.

An example of that situation is in Crak Mong village, Sampoinet sub-district, Aceh Jaya district. In April 2005 we started our project by building our office in Crak Mong village. The office is a duplex house which is made of brick. After the project is completed, those houses will be delivered to the community. The Crak Mong office will serve 4 villages i.e.: Crak Mong, Blang Monlueng, Meunasah Kulam and Alue Gro.

House constructions in the three villages went on, but not in Crak Mong. In this area the people had disagreement amongst themselves. Some of them wanted to have on-site reconstruction while others wanted to have relocation site at the hill. We told the community to settle down the difference and choose where they want to build. The dispute went on and on for 10 months, preventing us from kickstarting our work. In February 2006, the problem is getting bigger.

Canadian Red Cross came to us showed their Memorandum of Understanding with sub-district head, that Crak Mong is their working area. So, they have the same MOU as we have on Crak Mong. This is what we call the overlapping area. They asked us to hand over the area. They came to Crak Mong villagers promised them that they will get temporary shelter of International Federation of Red Cross at their previous house land. And in June 2006 they will have a brand-new house on the hill. So Crak Mong beneficiaries will have two houses. One is the temporary shelter and shortly they will have the brick house too. The offer of course was attractive!

We didn’t want to fall into NGO rivalry. Our instruction to Sugio, our West Coast Center Manager is just dropped that area and gave to CRC. But just giving away the site to CRC is not simple. Our workers who are Crak Mong villagers wanted us to build their houses. We couldn’t wait any longer after we had been working for more than 10 months. And we were happy that UNORC arranged and led the villagers’ election. On May 19, 2006, the election took place and CRC won the vote. It was a landslide winning. We were happy and congratulated CRC that Crak Mong community became theirs.

These pictures were taken on the election day. But today when I am writing this blog, more than eleven months after, none a single brick house was built.

Crack Mong was not the only area that we gave to other NGO. Some villages like Teupin Perao, Simpang Peut also gave to other. While the majority of those who work on reconstruction tend to go into rivalry, competing in having larger beneficiaries, we do not want to be like that. We go to the contrary course.

In that UNDP workshop I shared these mindsets:

1. The more land released; the more houses built. If our community is divided, some of them want to have our program and others want to receive from other NGO, just drop them. Let them who are willing to receive programs from others be removed from our list. We just focus on those who are ready to abide by our terms and conditions. The result is immense. We move faster. I believe  4,200+ houses we have built today, is one of the pieces of evidence that the mindset is true.
2. We respect the disaster affected people; we are on their side. If other NGO can work better and faster than us, that NGO should serve the community. It is not wise if we block the community from accepting better and earlier help.

Arwin Soelaksono - Disaster Response & reConstruction

3 things to do to retain skilled labors

Last June as reported by Serambi Indonesia newspaper more than 40 labors from West Java was left Calang to Meulaboh by walking. Out of their desperation, these people dare to go on feet. They have been frustrated by weeks because of un-clear payment. The contractor who employed them said the wages have been paid through the labors head. But disappeared some where, and did not trickle down. In other places reported the contractors left their projects leaving their workers unpaid. Same happen with some NGOs the payment procedure was complicated, made contractors and labors waiting for their payments for months. This situation becomes a common tale in Aceh reconstruction.

Conditions like these were spread out amongst the workers out side Aceh region. They were afraid to work in Aceh. They thought they will experience the unpaid work. These circumstances affected our work in last February. At that time almost our worker was Aceh worker. Their capacity is not sufficient to meet our standard and timeline. So when we were planned to bring skilled labors from Medan, they gave us the negative response.

But nowadays the condition was upside down. Just 9 months after they rejected our invitation, many head of skilled labors call our construction managers asking for works. Same happen with the above, the good news about us are spoken widely amongst the labors. This surprising circumstance was the fruit of how we treat our labors. There are 3 things as a must if we want to retain our skilled labors:1. Punctuality of payment time. The on time payment is more appreciates than the contract value. For labors payment security is more important than high rate of their contract. This assurance makes them fully concentrated of their work. This regularity is produce of a strong team work from every department.

2. Material availability prior their arrival. It is easy to maintain our workers in high spirit. Put material on site prior their arrival. Show them that our warehouse is complete. Let them see the regularity of material inflow from our supplier.

3. Project management. The labor will comfortable if we have proper project management. They have to see the shop drawing that can guide them to work and minimize confuse and dispute. They have to see the projection about the flow of work. It means after their completing one work they will know another works prepared for them. The appropriate project management will direct their work and some time we can discipline them.

Arwin Soelaksono - Disaster Response & reConstruction

Brick price plummet

After climbing for several months, nowadays brick price is plunge. Last January the price was double than before tsunami, it was reached 700 Rupiah. But currently we can buy 500 Rupiah each.

The contractors and NGOs who work in reconstruction purchase brick out side this region. This tsunami area was receiving brick from Bireun and Medan. Even though the transportation cost is expensive, the price of brick on site still cheaper compare with local bricks.

The brick business was attracted to some people who saw the opportunity. They opened home business based brick factory. Some NGO working with them as a livelihood program. The result is good. The supply is getting bigger and suit with the demand. Then the economic law is effective, all prices get down.

But the problem of high price is still there. In some area they force NGOs and contractors to buy their bricks. They are serious with their threat, by blocking the trucks which bring bricks which bought not from them. This harassment from the local supplier has an economic terminology, they call it, protection.

Arwin Soelaksono - Disaster Response & reConstruction

Local contractors flooded BRR with requests for prequalification

Last week, BRR issued a press release to inform the contractors’ selection process. The numbers were astonishing. 3,088 companies took the prequalification document, 2,885 contractors, and 203 consultants.

Not all submitted the documents, but most did. BRR received prequalification documents from 2,267 contractors and 121 consultants. 2,134 companies are Aceh-based. The prequalification results will be announced on 27 March 2006. A joint committee (BRR, Unsyiah, BPKP (State Financial Audit Board)) is processing the prequalification documents.

The number was unbelievable. Is it true that Aceh already had many construction companies before the disaster? If this is in Jakarta, I won't be surprised. Similar numbers of contractors worked in Jakarta in the golden years of the 90s. Or are they just people who want to grab the opportunity in the reconstruction job?

My alarm in the head was ringed. This condition can cause serious problem. It can describe in short in 2 implications.

First, only a small number of them are really genuine contractors. What I mean with genuine is capable, sufficient experience, adequate capital, own warehouse, construction equipments and vehicles, strong connections with suppliers, supported by big number of skilled labors and managed by professional engineers. So, we can predict if the huge number of contracts will be disbursed, these kind of contractors can win the job. Then we can expect the poor quality of work will produce.

Second, there are construction companies intentionally made for get the contract. And soon after they win the job, they will sub contract the job to other company. The bad news is not over yet. This subcontracting will go to 2 or 3 tiers. At the end of the day, the last tire will suffered out of cash. And they will easily leave the job unaccomplished.

Arwin Soelaksono - Disaster Response & reConstruction

Dumbest thing in Aceh reconstruction works, NGO competition

Enormous funding flowing into Aceh due to extensive publication on tsunami victims. It brought 124 International NGOs, dozens of UN organizations and 430 local NGOs flocked to Aceh. All of these parties have their responsibility in relief, rehabilitation and reconstruction of Aceh. And off course they have their responsibility as a channel of their donor who poured the funding through them.

Around mid of 2005, in big cities like Banda Aceh and Meulaboh, the presence of NGOs made these 2 cities looks like getting smaller. These 2 towns are crowd of organizations. Nearly everyone are in the high spirit to run their program. If everyone is getting hot and the area is crowd the issue is who will be the beneficiaries of the huge funding? The nasty thing to do is persuade the beneficiary to receive someone’s program and in the same time reject others.

For instance is in permanent shelter work. There is a competition of the size and the completeness of the house. Some NGO to win the heart of the beneficiary’s they built 2 stories houses. Some provide kitchen set. Some endow with cash to move in the new house. The beneficiaries were spoiled that they can choose on one NGO and refuse others. Or they can bargain with some NGO in order to seize the best they can get.

This is utterly awful, the mission to reach many people shifted to put the flag of the organization on higher ground. If everyone’s mindset is to provide decent house to as many tsunami victims can get, the competition as mentioned above will not happen. The bigger house, the more complete house built or even more beautiful house, will reduce the number of beneficiary.

Other example from permanent shelter reconstruction works is as happen in Meulaboh, Aceh Barat District. Most of the NGO are prepared to build 36 m sq meters houses. But there was a day, when one NGO came to the local authority told all their houses will be 45 sq meters. Concerned with the jealousy will spread amongst the citizens, the local authority instructed all NGOs to build the same size with that NGO. Same as above based on the budget availability the number of the beneficiary decrease.

But the jealousy already reaches to other district. People of Aceh Jaya District which the closest area of Aceh Barat District receive smaller houses. Most of the NGO here build the 36 sq meters house.

Yesterday evening, a group of villagers came to our office in Rigaih, Aceh Jaya. They asked me, why we treat them differently. They knew that we build 45 sq meters house in Aceh Barat but here the 36 sq meters. In anger they forced me to build same as we build in Aceh Barat otherwise they will kick us out. I told them, we will only build the 36 sq meters. We will not persuade them to receive it. They who are willing to get the 36 sq meters house they can have it freely otherwise they can go to other NGO to receive bigger house. And I told them, if all of them agree to refuse us, we will leave that community.

NGO competition brings bad attitude to the beneficiaries. It made them spoiled. At the end of the day can dictate the NGO who helped them to fulfill their unreasonable needs. Our mission is not only building a house. More than that, we have to share the noble values which are embedded in every NGO entity.

Arwin Soelaksono - Disaster Response & reConstruction

Bridge Collapse in Panga

This was shocking to us! Last 6 days ago, we just awarded one supplier for bulk buying. They will send their materials from Meulaboh to our sites on the West Coast. It means they will pass this bridge. With this situation, they have to change the route. The roadway from Banda Aceh to the West Coast is not much better than Meulaboh's.

Below is the email of Eka Rinanda from the Aceh Jaya Field Office
Office of the United Nations Recovery Coordinator for Aceh and Nias (UNORC): Today at around 12.00 am a UNORC Calang received a report of a bridge (bailey bridge) collapse in Panga. A 30 - 40 MT JICS truck loaded with sand/gravel, which was trying to cross, stumbled into the river. No casualties were reported - there was only one driver and no passenger, but the truck is still in the river. The location is in the Ulee Titi sub-village, Keude Panga village, Panga sub-district. The bridge is not totally disconnected but twisted halfway through; therefore, it is not passable for vehicles. Motorbikes can go through, some reported, but passengers have to get off.

I contacted Samaritan's Purse in Panga for the above-detailed information and informed the BRR Regional Office here. I have called Dewi Elyana in our Meulaboh office, and she will inform NGOs/Agencies in Meulaboh about this situation and maybe talk to the JICS office there. From the BRR side, Saliza will contact Banda Aceh for a follow-up. I also heard that Oxfam may have planned to fix this bridge, and they have checked on the spot today. I will confirm this with Oxfam Calang.

I attach photos taken by ACF staff for your clear description of the damage. It is critical for Aceh Jaya, especially now that we hear about the fuel shortage in Calang and the need to get supplies from Meulaboh. The email sent on Mar 9, 2006 3:01 PM

Arwin Soelaksono - Disaster Response & reConstruction