How the loss of USAID funding affects Indonesia’s ability to fight climate change

Key Concepts

• USAID (United States Agency for International Development): A U.S. government agency responsible for administering civilian foreign aid and development assistance.
• Groundwater Extraction: The process of removing water from underground aquifers.
• Land Subsidence: The sinking or settling of the ground surface.
• Saltwater Intrusion: The movement of saline water into freshwater aquifers, often caused by rising sea levels or excessive groundwater pumping.
• Waterborne Diseases: Illnesses caused by pathogenic microorganisms transmitted through contaminated water.
• Foreign Assistance: Aid provided by one country to another, often for development, humanitarian, or strategic purposes.
• National Interests: The goals and objectives of a nation that are considered important for its security, prosperity, and well-being.

Impact of USAID Funding Cuts on Indonesia

This report details the significant negative consequences of the Trump administration's decision to eliminate funding for USAID, particularly focusing on its impact in Indonesia, a nation grappling with severe environmental challenges.

Clean Water Access in Jakarta's Periphery

• Problem: Residents outside Jakarta, the capital of Indonesia, have historically struggled to access clean water. Decades of extensive groundwater extraction have led to land subsidence in Jakarta, causing the city to sink. Simultaneously, rising sea levels due to climate change are pushing saltwater into freshwater sources, further contaminating them.
• USAID Intervention: In 2016, USAID initiated a program to assist disadvantaged families in obtaining clean water.
• Beneficiary Testimony: Abdul, a resident, shared his personal experience, stating, "For me personally it was really helpful." He explained that prior to USAID's intervention, he relied on unsafe water from a well dug by hand. "Once I used usaid water I stopped using the pump to extract groundwater. I was very happy and grateful."
• Program Mechanism: The USAID program installed meters to connect families to the city's water supply at affordable rates. This initiative aimed to eliminate the need for drilling wells or purchasing expensive jugs of water from local vendors.
• Limitations: Despite its success, the program's reach was limited. The master meter program, as described, only managed to connect 18% of families in the village to the city water supply.

Consequences of Funding Elimination

• Expert Opinion (Jeff Cohen, former USAID Mission Director in Indonesia): Cohen expressed grave concerns about the "dire consequences" of the funding cuts. He argued that without USAID's support, communities would be left to fend for themselves or find alternative catalysts for development.
• Projected Outcomes: Cohen predicted that some communities would "never get access to clean drinking water, will never get access to safe sanitation, until somebody replaces us and I do not think that will happen." He anticipates an increase in waterborne diseases and "sick kids who should not have been sick if they had access to cleaner water."
• Argument Against Cuts: A neighborhood chief emphasized the critical role of USAID, stating, "That is why the only option was the initiative from usaid. We were grateful to them." The report highlights the sentiment that "When there are countries or populations not receiving support from their government, and said are stepping in to help, it would be a mistake for world leaders to stop those efforts."

U.S. Foreign Policy and National Interests

• Defense of Cuts (Secretary of State Marco Rubio): In January, Secretary of State Marco Rubio defended the administration's decision to defund USAID, stating, "Yes we canceled a bunch of contracts in said. Some were stupid and outrageous, others did not serve the national interests. It is not charity."
• Counterargument (Jeff Cohen): Cohen, drawing on decades of experience, argued that foreign assistance has historically strengthened U.S. influence. He believes that canceling USAID funding will damage U.S. relations with countries like Indonesia.
• Erosion of Trust: Cohen questioned the credibility of future U.S. commitments, asking, "How now when the government of the U.S. Says to Indonesia we are here to support you, how can they relieve that?"

Conclusion: The Future of Water Security in Indonesia

As Indonesia faces the dual challenges of rapid climate change and urban growth, the report concludes by posing a critical question: can the Indonesian government sustain essential services like clean water access without the crucial support previously provided by USAID? The absence of this foreign assistance raises significant doubts about the long-term water security for vulnerable populations.