Asia

Regional Report 2012

Mission
Swisscontact promotes economic, social and ecological development by
supporting people to successfully integrate into local commercial life.
Swisscontact creates opportunities for people to improve their living
conditions as a result of their own eorts. The focus of its systemic
interventions in the private sector is the strengthening of local and global value
chains. Through its projects, Swisscontact enables access to professional
training, promotes local entrepreneurship, creates access to local nancial
service providers and supports the ecient use of resources with the goal of
successfully promoting employment and income generation.

Content
Mission
Foreword
Approach
South Asia
South East Asia
Success Stories
Overview of Projects
Donors
Management

Asia Regional Report-2012

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03
06
07
15
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25
27
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Foreword

In South-East Asia we have a strong focus on market development projects. In Indonesia, we currently
manage a portfolio of eight projects focusing mostly on market development in different industries. In
particular Cocoa has become a key value chain where Swisscontact Projects in Indonesia have become
international references.

Dear Reader,
Asia is certainly one of the most dynamic regions in the world with impressive economic growth rates over
the last few years. However, at the same time, disparities between poor and rich become more and more
evident and the fast economic growth endangers natural resources. Swisscontact supports private and
public partners in addressing these challenges in Indonesia, Laos, Myanmar, Bangladesh and Nepal.
For Swisscontact 2012 was a very positive year in terms of progress in ongoing programs as well as
expansion into new projects. We managed to grow and expand our activities into Nepal and Myanmar. The
extensive learning that we generated over the past years is being successfully transferred into new projects.
The results achieved so far are the proof that we are on the right path and that we are capable, together with
our partners, to deliver high quality project work in favor of disadvantaged communities.
In South Asia, our development projects include pro-poor market development, skills development and
newly resource efficiency projects - with a focus on Solid Waste Management. We also run a recently
awarded Supplier Qualification Project in the textile sector. Skills development has been one of the priorities
for 2012, where we were able to diversify our activities into different economic sectors. The current projects
in skills development reach over 92,000 young men and women in Bangladesh and Nepal.
In Bangladesh we recently completed one of our
skills development projects, which started in 2009,
and has exemplified replicable models for other
projects in the region. In the market development
arena, we extended our work into new areas of
Bangladesh, mainly the chars. Following the making
markets work for the poor approach, more than 2.1
million farmers and enterprises around Bangladesh

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profit from our interventions.

In Nepal, we have set up a new country office.
Swisscontact was present in Nepal previously and
we are glad to be back. We designed a new skills
development project to start in 2013 and
consolidated a promising market development
program.

The current projects target around 80,000

households involved in the cocoa production,
improving their livelihoods and production capacity
significantly. In particular the SCPP project is
considered a best practice example in establishing
successful private-public partnerships with the major
cocoa traders and processors in Indonesia. Tourism
promotion is another priority in Indonesia with a large
project on Destination Management and capacity
development
of
local
TourismManagement
Organizations (TMOs), aiming to improve the
competitiveness of Indonesias tourism industry.
Swisscontact is applying a comprehensive approach
towards Destination Management by strengthening
local stakeholders and communities in internal
tourism management as well as promoting regional
collaboration for external destination marketing.
In Laos, we continued our work in tourism
development with a destination management
approach. In Myanmar, we fielded a mission to explore

potential future activities for Swisscontact and

managed to identify several promising projects. In
both countries we see an important potential for
Swisscontact to engage in meaningful development.
Our objective remains to add real value to the
development process in the whole region. We are
thankful for the important contributions of our
partners in the private and public sectors as well as
the many local NGOs working with us and helping us
in fulfilling our mission. We are grateful to our donors
for the confidence they put in us in delivering high
quality and sustainable impact at the needed scale.
We also would like to express our gratitude to all our
staff and to thank them for their tireless efforts and
commitment.
We are looking forward to a successful collaboration
in 2013.

Peter Bissegger

Manish Pandey

Regional Director
Regional Office South East Asia (ROSEA)

Regional Director
South Asia Regional Office (SARO)

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Swisscontact Approach
As an expert organisation, Swisscontact carries out high-quality project work on site.
The cost-effectiveness and efficiency of its services is proven by well-documented,
transparent monitoring and quantification procedures. Recurring internal and
external checks provide proof of continued, sustainable development of expertise,
skills and practical know-how.
Swisscontact was established in 1959 as an independent organisation by notable
figures from the worlds of commerce and science in Switzerland. It is exclusively
involved in international co-operation and since 1961 has carried out its own and
mandated projects. Since it was founded, Swisscontact has had close ties with the
private sector. In 2012 Swisscontact is active in 27 countries and had some 750
employees. The organisation is based in Zrich.

Swisscontact concentrates on four core areas of private sector promotion:

Vocational Education and Training: Enabling
access to the labour market and creating the
conditions for gaining an occupation and earning
an income. In South Asia, one of the major areas of
focus for Swisscontact is skills development. The
current skills development projects are targeting
more than 92,000 youth in Bangladesh and Nepal.
The office also works with the objective to
showcase the importance of market-led skills
development for better employment and poverty
reduction for the economies.
SME Promotion: Promoting local entrepreneurship
with the goal of strengthening its competitiveness.
Pro-poor market development projects are another
major area of focus for the Swisscontact offices in
Bangladesh, Nepal and Indonesia. The largest and
most successful market development project in the
region is Katalyst, based in Bangladesh, which is
starting its third phase in 2013. Facilitation of
value-chains through private sector led innovations
is core to this approach that Swisscontact follows.

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Financial Services: Creating access to local

financial service providers who offer credit,
savings, leasing and insurance products.
Swisscontact projects in Asia consider financial
services as having an important role to play in the
sustainability of its programs. Thus, it ensures
facilitating linkages between their partners and
beneficiaries with financial institutions in their market
development and skills development projects.
Resource Efficiency: Promoting the efficient use of
resources through production methods that are
efficient in their use of energy and materials, and
through taking measures to promote clear air and
sustainable waste disposal. From 2013, the pilot
phase for Solid Waste Management project will be
starting in Bangladesh with the objective to
improve the household waste management in
selected areas of Dhaka. In Indonesia, under
WISATA a solid waste management working
group has developed a Roadmap 2012-2015
for waste management.

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Katalyst
Katalyst is one of the leading projects in the world
applying the pro-poor market development approach
(known as Making Markets work for the Poor or
M4P). Impacts are achieved by facilitating successful
changes in existing market systems and in the
behaviour of those market players involved in such
systems to present new opportunities to the target
beneficiaries. Such new opportunities include
increasing access to relevant information, valuable
services and quality inputs. This has resulted in
better practices, increased income, leading to
improved living conditions and better lives for the
poor, and gradually reducing poverty. Katalyst has
been working in around 30 sectors since 2003.
The project has completed two phases; the first
phase started in March 2002 and ended in October
2007 and the second phase started in March 2008
and ending in March 2013. The third phase is due to
start in March 2013. In this time, the total number of
farmers and enterprises benefited is 421,000; total
amount of income increase is USD 45 million as a
result of the projects interventions.

Highlights in 2012:
Katalyst partnered with the Rural Development
Academy (RDA) to develop the technology for
trichoderma. Trichoderma is an environment-friendly,
soil-borne fungus that speeds up the decomposition
of organic materials. RDA produces trichoderma
activator in its culture laboratory at Sherpur, Bogra.
To date, around 200 local service providers have
been trained to disseminate knowledge on this
technology to farmers. RDA also engaged ten sales
agents to market trichoderma in the surrounding
districts and to ensure that it is used effectively at the
household level.
Katalyst supported Ispahani Biotech, a leading
integrated pest management (IPM) company, to
organise a cluster demonstration in Chuadanga,
on the use of pheromone traps for effective pest
control. 197 farmers along with other IPM
techniques received training in the usage and
benefits of pheromone traps to control crop
infestation. After reading the results of an IPM
study on improved crop production, Katalyst
recommended policy change to government,
resulting in an Amendment of the Pesticide Rules,
1985, allowing the private companies to
commercially sell IPM tools.

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A recent study showed that traditional forms of

packaging cause around 30-40% post-harvest
loss in the vegetable, fish and fruit sectors. To
minimise this loss, Katalyst partnered with Bengal
Plastic to introduce plastic crates for the farmers to
carry their produce. Around 400 value chain
officials were informed about the benefits of using
plastic crates at farm level and for long distance
transportation. More than 2,500 crates were sold
during the pilot phase (up to May 2011).
Encouraged by this success, in March 2012,
Bengal Plastic launched two new types of plastic
crate for fish and vegetable.

Making Markets work for the

Chars (M4C)
M4C aims to improve the market systems for the poor
people living on the chars, by developing capacity of
poor char households, service providers and other
market actors leading to their increase in income and
reduced vulnerability. The project will work in 10
districts of Northern Bangaldesh- Bogra, Sirajgonj,
Gaibandha,
Jamalpur,
Rangpur,
Nilphamari,
Lalmonirhat, Kurigram, Pabna and Tangail.
M4C applies the M4P approach supplemented by
Participatory Market System Development (PMSD)
tools.The project partners with a range of private and
public sector organisations to facilitate local market
systems ensuring sustainable and pro-poor impact on
the chars. M4Cs current portfolio includes product
sectors such as maize, chilli, jute, handicraft and
cross-cutting sector such as char transport. During
the project period, new sectors will be added based
on further assessments and learning from the field.
The project is implemented by Swisscontact in
consortium with Practical Action. Starting December
01, 2012, M4C has completed its inception period on
May 31, 2012 and has rolled over into the first year of
its implementation phase.

Highlights in 2012:
Partnership with two agro-input companies and a
regional feed mill established.
Facilitated training of 200 input retailers on
agriculture and business practices.
Supported partner companies to establish around
100 demonstration plots in 4 districts on maize
and chilli.
Supported 11 local traders to provide inputs and
training to maize producers on the chars.
Collaboration with a national technical institute to
carry out research on suitable boat designs for the
chars.

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SkillFUL
SkillFUL aims to improve the skills-based
opportunities for sustainable income generation for
the labour force in the informal economy, particularly
women, youth and People with Disabilities (PWDs) in
Dhaka, Kurigram, Sunamganj, Nilphamari, Jessore and
Bogra. The project components include Training
Needs Assessment (TNA); development of curriculum
guides and training of trainers; capacity development
of training facilities and facilitating trainings;
introducing certification of private training service
providers; employment support to trainees and
graduates; facilitating financial linkages with Training
Service Providers (TSPs), trainees and graduates.
A total of 4,745 trainees from 6 target areas were
enrolled into the TSPs, out of which the number of
females were 3,560; males were 1,185 and
Differently-abled People were 53. Among whom
2,389 have already graduated.

Highlights in 2012:
Modular contents of all the training curricula have
allowed TSPs to implement customised short
courses relevant for the trainees as per their
specific needs. In many places training sessions
are also being conducted in flexible hours,
ensuring participation of more trainees.
Workplace based training has been introduced in
Kurigram and Sunamganj, in trades such as carpentry,

SkillMark
hand embroidery/stitching, block and batik print,
etc. The project has engaged workshops and
factories as alternative to training centres to carry
out workplace based training models. So far, it has
been an effective approach for training
underemployed workers in the informal economy.
Some of these workshops, serving as TSPs, are
also selling the finished products prepared by
trainees during training. Such practices are also
helping them generate additional revenues.
All the TSPs contracted under the project have
seen incentives to share cost during training
implementation,
thus
guaranteeing
their
ownership. Furthermore, TSPs have been
encouraged to charge training fees from trainees
and in many cases it has been recorded that
trainees have contributed a nominal amount as
their contribution to trainings.
The project has facilitated discussions and
established linkages between many TSPs and
financial institutions and 3 TSPs have availed loans
to expand their training operations as they have
begun to comprehend the potential of training as a
business. Some TSPs in Nilphamari and Dhaka
have shown interest and are already pursuing
loans with similar plans.

SkillMark contributed to the skills development

portfolio of Swisscontact SARO as the pioneer in
2009. The project operates mainly in Dhaka by
improving the competitiveness of selected economic
sectors. The project assesses their needs of skilled
labour and facilitates marketbased mechanisms that
ensure the sustained availability of skilled workers.
Over the years, it has partnered with 5 Training
Service Providers (TSPs) to facilitate their capacity
development and promotional activities till 2012.
Beneficiaries of SkillMark primarily comprise of poor
unemployed/underemployed young men and women
who have enrolled themselves as trainees under the
upgraded training delivery mechanism in the partner
TSPs of SkillMark. By the end of the project a total of
5 private TSPs were partnered with and their
capacity was developed for better delivery of both
theoretical and practical training sessions. As of
December 2012, a total of 4,108 trainees have been
enrolled in the partner training institutions out of
which 2,317 have graduated successfully.

Highlights in 2012:
SkillMark has facilitated the launching of the first
ever training institute in the Alternative and
Renewable Energy Sector in Bangladesh. It is
known as the Institute of Clean Energy Training
and Research (ICETR) as a sister concern of PSL
(Prokaushali Sangsad Ltd.) who are one of the
partners of SkillMark.
Competency Based Training (CBT) curriculum on
Solar Energy Technician has been developed and
distributed among the partner TSPs.
CBT Manual on Cook occupation has also been
developed and distributed among the partner
TSPs along with non-partners such as National
Hospitality and Tourism Training Institute (NHTTI).

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Skills Development Project (SDP)

Supplier Qualification Project (SQP)

The objective of the SDP project is to reduce poverty

and promote economic growth in Bangladesh by
increasing wage and self-employment of graduates
of skills training programmes. The project works in
the areas of Light Engineering, Ready Made
Garment (RMG), Construction and Informal sector.

The SQP project on Social Compliance and

Workflow Improvement started in 2011 and will
continue till May 2014. The project supports supplier
factories in the garment industry to implement social
compliance according to the BSCI (Business and
Social Compliance Initiative) standards. Teams
made up of factory staff from all levels are formed to
be the Change Management Team (CMT) and
receive training on how to improve working
conditions and health of workers; comply with local
law and international social standards; increase
productivity; provide safe energy and water; reduce
environmental impact.

The duration of the project is July 2008 to June 2013.

However, the implementation of the project was
delayed and the Technical Assistance support by
Swisscontact started in January 2010. As of
December 2012, 3,030 TVET teachers have been
trained among which 374 are female TVET teachers.
Meanwhile, 40 master trainers have been selected.
Market Responsive Training Courses (MRTC) started
from September 2012 in 11 Polytechnic Institutes to
conduct skills training in 4 areas:- (i) Welding and
Fabrication; (ii) Plumbing and Pipe Fitting; (iii)
General Electrician; and (iv) Masonry and
Rod-binding. 1,100 unemployed and underemployed
youth including women trainees enrolled for the
courses and 1,085 have completed and been
certified by the competent authority on 31 December,
2012.

Till now, 87 factories have improved their social

compliance which benefits over 90,000 garments
workers who work in healthier and safer conditions.
Factories that have better compliance secure their
business long-term, maintaining thousands of jobs
for the poor.

Highlights in 2012:
Forum for Skills Development Partners (FSDP)
formed.
MOU signed with BGMEA and NGO Federation.
2 Awareness raising campaigns were organized in
different parts of Bangladesh.
60 competency standards
submitted to BTEB.

developed

and

15 curricula on 6 occupations developed and

submitted to BTEB.
Competency Based Learning Materials (CBLM)
on 6 occupations (skills level-1) developed.
Syllabuses of 6 BTEB Trade Courses (360 hours)
have been revised, reflecting the need of the
market. The revised syllabuses have already been
approved by BTEB.
Glossary of TVET terminologies developed.

Highlights in 2012:
Inclusion of a broader target group (different
management levels and workers) to foster
dialogue in the factory and spread the learning at
different levels. This will help make the project
intervention more sustainable.
In-factory trainings were added with greatly
expanded target groups (especially to include
workers) to support this knowledge transfer.
New indicators were added for health and safety
and worker satisfaction that go beyond what social
standards capture.
A very advanced factory created a worker
participation fund with our support. Workers
receive part of the factory profits paid out in cash.

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Towards sustAinable quality

healthcaRe delivery at
grasSroots level through
Active participation of civil society
organisatioNs (TARSAN)
TARSAN project aims to contribute to a more
qualified, sustainable and accessible quality
healthcare service for the poor living in rural
Bangladesh by engaging local Civil Society
Organisations (CSOs). The project assists in the
development of Community Paramedics (CP) from
three disaster prone areas of Patuakhali, Nilphamari
and Sunamgonj. These CPs will be skilled in basic
general health, maternal health, neonatal & child
health and other reproductive health issues.
Community Paramedic course is a two years course
designed by the Ministry of Health and Family
Welfare (MoH&FW) for creating an additional health
workforce in the healthcare system. Through a
scholarship scheme TARSAN will support 600 CP
students from the above mentioned districts.

Nepal Market Development Programme (NMDP)

Nepal remains one of the poorest and most unequal
countries in Asia. 55% of the population lives on less
than $1.25 per day and 78% on less than $2. Nepal
needs growth (currently at 4% rate), and in particular
it needs pro-poor growth. Thus, development work in
Nepal needs to (a) focus on sectors of most relevance
to the poor and (b) learning from the mistakes of the
past, address the underlying systemic constraints that
prevent key sectors from working effectively.

NMDP aims to reach out to thousands of small

farmers and entrepreneurs over its duration. It will do
this by working with a wide range of public and private
stakeholders like agents, traders, input suppliers,
importers, manufacturers, distributors, processors,
government agencies and departments and also
qualified local and international NGOs or public
agencies that will complement the implementation
capacity of the programme.

In response to the above need, NMDP follows the

Making Markets work for the Poor (M4P) approach
focusing on rural market development, particularly in
agricultural sectors which have potential for delivering
pro-poor growth. The program aims to achieve two
objectives: (i) The underlying pro-poor performance of
rural sectors, particularly agriculture, is improved; (ii)
The capacity for effective pro-poor market
development among key stakeholders, including
government, throughout Nepal is enhanced, leading
to positive and sustained practice change.

Highlights in 2012:
After completing the design phase, NMDP has
started working in the following agriculture
sectors: dairy, vegetables, ginger, aquaculture,
pigs.

Currently, there are 58 students studying to be

Community Paramedics after receiving the
scholarships. After January 2013, they will get
certification from Bangladesh Nursing Council
(BNC).
Besides this, 13,607 community people, mostly
female are aware about Community Paramedics as
being a skilled workforce in the health sector. They
are also more aware about maternal and child health
related issues through Uthan Baithak meetings.

Highlights in 2012:
Community Paramedic course has been affiliated
by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
through Bangladesh Nursing Council (BNC) in
September 2012.
15 Community Paramedic students are getting
scholarship from other sources.
10 students are
CSOs/NGOs.

getting

study

loan

from

Financial institutes (Rupali Bank Ltd., etc.) have

committed to provide startup loan for the
Community Paramedic graduates.

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The Sustainable Cocoa

Production Program (SCPP)
SCPP project aims to improve competitiveness of
the cocoa value chains in selected disadvantaged
areas in Indonesia. The Program targets 60,000
cocoa farmers for capacity development, to improve
the productivity and quality of cocoa production.
Improving the management of cocoa farm is
achieved through comprehensive training in on-farm
and post-harvest Good Agricultural Practices
(GAP), Integrated Pest Management (IPM),
responsible use of inputs, improved planting
material, and strengthening of Cocoa Producer
Groups.

The project has facilitated the process of producing

362,580 tons of organic cashews per-year of 6
farmers groups. There are 346 people registered in 2
organic cashew processing units and at the
household level.
Through cashew processing unit (brown skin), the
project has increased the incomes for 106
households on an average of USD 98 and for 300
households from sold in-shell cashew on an average
of USD 53.
20 full time jobs have been created in one local
processing unit at the village level with an average
income of USD 100 - 150 per month for 3 months
(October December).

The Program also targets certification of smallholder

cocoa farmers, based on international sustainability
standards, in order to improve the long-term
prospects of the Indonesian cocoa sector.

Highlights in 2012:
First batch of 6,000 cocoa farmers trained in West
Sulawesi, South Sulawesi, Central Sulawesi and
follow-up support provided to 12,540 previously
trained PEKA cocoa farmers.
403 previously trained PEKA Cocoa Producer
Groups (CPG) followed-up and supported. An
additional 200 new CPG supported and
strengthened through improved group management,
financial and organisational capacities.
173 extension staff attended Master Training in
how to conduct trainings for farmers in Good
Agricultural, Social, Environmental and Business
Practices. The participating extension staff were
from public and private sector partners.
Preparations are being made for cocoa farm
certification processes based on international
sustainability criteria under UTZ Certified and
Rainforest Alliance.
6 business partners committed to integrating
traceability and sustainability into their supply
chains.

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LED NTT in its second phase aims to improve the

performance of 3 economic sectors (cashew, cocoa,
seaweed) and a service sector (Regulatory Impact
Assessment RIA and One Stop Services OSS) in
selected districts of NTT (East Flores, Sikka, Ende and
Alor) whereby contributing to reduce poverty in the
target areas. The project targets 4,100 poor
households benefiting through direct training in
agricultural practices.

Highlights in 2012:

Around 2,000 Cocoa Producer Groups and at least

200 Smallholder Cocoa Enterprises (SCE), at
sub-district level, have been targeted for
strengthening through improvements to managerial,
financial and organisational capacities. Through this,
the program has targeted average productivity levels
of at least 1,000 kg of cocoa per hectare per year,
through improved cocoa farm Management.

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LED NTT

In 2009, the first and only agriculture vocational

school with organic GAP included in the curriculum,
was established in one of the cashew target villages,
with a total of 68 students until today.
Cocoa has an increased productivity of 150% or 625
kg per hectare compared to baseline data from 2007
of 250 kg per hectare. This reflects an increase in
income from IDR 2,250,000 per hectare in 2007 to
IDR 5,625,000 per hectare in 2012.
Service providers in cashew sector (Cooperatives
and Facilitators) and cocoa sector (Village Cocoa
Clinic VCC) were promoted and delivering their
services on productivity, introducing Internal Control
System (ICS) for organic, joint marketing of cocoa
seedling to farmers, local NGOs, local government,
etc. One cooperative has created profit reaching
USD 5,600 from buying and selling organic cashew
and providing microfinance services. 3 cooperatives
in cocoa sector created profit reaching USD 8,374
from buying and selling cocoa beans and USD 5,805
from service provision for giving information on
productivity and nurseries.
Based on the impact study in both sectors, the
project has contributed to increasing livelihood of the
beneficiaries: improvement of housings, access to
electricity and water, education institutions, health
facilities, local market and information sharing.

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Lao PLUS
The Project seeks to increase the market for local
products purchased by tourists. This has the
potential to increase incomes for local farmers,
processors, traders and other market actors. PLUS
promotes labeling and standards for a wide range of
local food products and focused in its pilot phase
until end of 2012 on product development for mango
sheets. PLUS follows a three pronged approach
consisting of: promoting local products targeting the
tourism sector through the market development
approach; laying the foundations for public and
private sector stakeholders to initiate a destination
management approach for Champasak; and
promoting capacity building of local agencies on
market development and value chains.

The project is in its first phase 2011-2012 and will

enter a second phase of 3 years in January 2013.

Highlights in 2012:
Livelihood indicators related to education, nutrition
and household assets have shown improvement
for 1,820 people (455 HH with 4 members each)
in 3 selected districts of Champasak province.
Productivity of 438 mango farming households
increased from 270 tons in 2011 to 541 tons in
2012.

Technical Assistance to GIZ

Regional Economic Development (RED)
The overall objective of the RED Programme is to
improve framework conditions, sector programs as
well as planning and implementation processes for
regional economic development. The project works at
the national level as well as in pilot projects in three
geographic regions. In a consortium with Mesopartner
and GFA, Swisscontact is implementing the approach
in West Kalimantan and Central Java, covering 9
districts, 6 in Central Java and 3 in West Kalimantan.
SCs technical assistance to GIZ focuses on capacity
building of the partners in planning and
implementation of sustainable LRED Approaches in
the target areas. The project provides capacity
building to the local partners in implementing various
instruments, such as the development of regional
development strategies, One Stop Services for
business licensing, regulatory impact assessment,
value chain and cluster development, as well as
entrepreneurship training.
Main private partners include media such as Suara
Merdeka/Pontianak Post and Q-Spicing (a major
spice supplier) and from the public sector Provincial
Bappeda, Bank Indonesia and BPMD. The project is
now in its third phase and will come to an end in
December 2014. From the last phase, the project has
an additional focus on introducing issues related to
green economy among partners.

Highlights of 2012:
After conducting a potential assessment of new
tourist destinations in both regions, Tourism Profile
Brochures and a Tourism Map have been published.
Joint efforts in tourism destination management and
marketing result in the development and sales of
new tourism packages; National Tourism Magazines
and local newspapers publish tourism activities.
Business link established between pepper farmers
in West Kalimantan (with a potential supply of 100
ton) and a major spice supplier to European
markets.
An Investor Survey (needs assessment of investors)
was conducted to improve investment conditions in
Central Java.
RED strategies have been developed together with
the partners in both regions; the model for regional
planning will be used by Bappenas as an example
for other regions.

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Cocoa Post Harvest Handling Practice (CPHP)

CPHP (2011-2013) project aims to improve
competitiveness of cocoa farmers in Ende - Flores
through productivity enhancing and value adding
measures, as well as by creating a favorable business
environment for the development of the cocoa
sector. Increased productivity and value addition will
result in higher incomes from cocoa production and
are expected to contribute to reduced poverty levels.
The project partners with Cocoa Cooperative,
Cocoa Forum, local government, local and national
traders, media and finance institutions.
Around 1,500 household families are benefited
through direct access to cocoa buying station and
access to finance.

Highlights in 2012:
Field Facilitators (FFs) have trained 1,709 farmers
on solar dryer technology and access to market
(including 1,094 farmers who are facilitated by
local government).

360 units solar dryer have been developed in 23

villages, with average drying within 2-7 days in
depending season.
905 farmers have delivered 36,897 kg wet cocoa
beans; 16,795 kg wet cocoa bean (moisture
content 20%), and 11,437 kg dry cocoa beans
(moisture content 7% / standard SNI) and 3,601
kg cocoa bean fermented to three cooperatives
acting as processing and marketing units.
Therefore, 30,093 kg cocoa dried (unfermented
and Comextra Majora Fermented - CMF standard)
were sold to PT. Comextra Majora with prices
average USD 2,065/kg for unfermented and USD
2,117/kg for fermented. Created profit reaching
USD 8,374 from buying and selling cocoa beans.
23 Cooperative officers have attended Financial
Household Management workshop.

Peningkatan Ekonomi Kakao Aceh (PEKA)

PEKA aims to improve competitiveness of the cocoa
value chain to provide more business opportunities
for the private sector. Swisscontact initiates a
conducive policy environment and strategic planning
tools for the cocoa sub-sector by using a leading
sector planning tool Triple A (Atlas, Aturan Main,
Agenda), that provides a platform for the public and
private sector to develop a district based Cocoa
Master Plan (DCMP) for Aceh. The project improves
human resources in cocoa research and the cocoa
supply chain, at the district, sub-district and farm
level in cooperation with the Agriculture Departments
in the selected districts. Through the project, 12,500
farmers will receive a total of 250,000 person days of
training on good crop husbandry practices, farm
rehabilitation and cocoa farmer community
strengthening. The project supports key services to
the cocoa sector with the objective to improve its
competitiveness. Main interventions are the
promotion of business services in the field of input
supply, promotion of business services related to
quality improvements and market access, and
promotion of financial services in the cocoa value
chain.

Highlights in 2012:
PEKA reached 12,540 cocoa farmers (21%
women), increasing their productivity by 124%
from an average of 330 to 740 kg of cocoa per
hectare per year. This directly led to a 101%
average increase in cocoa farmers income (from
USD 697 to USD 1,400 per hectare per year).
A total of 1.2 million unproductive cocoa trees
were rehabilitated (1,500 hectares) through
side-grafting techniques.
Project supported cocoa traders (SMEs) saw a
19.7% increase in total sales volume over the
project period and increased their number of
employees by 37.5%, from 365 to 502 over the
same period.
In an independent assessment of SME owners,
82% reported improved financial management and
76% reported an increase in business profits.

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20

WISATA

TAPP
TAPP was running from 2007 to September 2012.
The project partnered with well reputed Indonesian
Polytechnics like POLMAN, ATMI and POLINEMA.
The project goal is to create a qualified technical
labour force which will support short term
reconstruction and sustainable private sector led
growth. The purpose of the project is to create a
financially viable Polytechnic Institute with a good
reputation among industries and communities for
high quality technical education that provides a
broad variety of technical education schemes to a
diverse range of students.

Highlights in 2012:
Second batch of 120 students have graduated
from D3 programs in September 2012.
More than 70% of 2011 graduates have found
employment 6 months after graduation.
Polytechnic Aceh graduates are clearly more
successful on the labor market than graduates
from any other Acehnese institution of higher
education.
Polytechnic Aceh is offering job placement
services to Acehs University graduates.

The WISATA project aims to increase the

competitiveness of the tourism destination Flores.
The direct beneficiaries of the project are an
estimated 5,000 people working in the tourism
businesses, the local government agencies in 8
districts in Flores, as well as the provincial and the
National Government represented through the
Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy. The
project is expected to increase tourist arrivals in
Flores from the current 25,000 tourists to 45,000 in
2013, an increase of 30% for businesses working in
the tourism sector as well as 7% annual increase in
average daily visitor spending.
The project strengthens the capacity of local Tourism
Management Organisations (TMOs) and supports
the establishment of an effective destination
management organisation (DMO) on a regional level.
The DMOs act as catalyst and facilitator in internal
destination improvements and in external Destination
Marketing functions. The Project also supports the
development of local and regional tourism
government plans, the preparation of Tourism
Objects and Information and the involvement of local
communities in tourism sector and the local tourism
industry to offer appropriate services & facilities.

of handling tourists visiting the village as well as

providing suitable services for these visitors.
Supporting different subsectors such as tour
guides, hotels and restaurants, as well as boat
operators through capacity building. Developing
toolkits for trainings of different positions within
the tourism sector (i.e. general management,
cook, tour guide etc.).
A working group for Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR)
in tourism sector in one city has been formed and
disaster awareness and tsunami evacuation
workshop for tourism SMEs has been conducted.
Through the facilitation of the local solid waste
management working group the development of
a Roadmap 2012-2015 for waste management
defining responsibilities, facilities needed,
necessary funding and the details of
implementing waste management actions was
developed.

Highlights in 2012:
In all 8 districts of Flores local tourism
management
organisations
(TMOs)
are
established to coordinate and support local
sustainable tourism development.
The regional Flores Destination Management
Organisation is operational, the secretariat in
Ende and its office in Bali are linked to the tourism
market established.
The TMOs and DMO opened 3 Tourism
Information Centers in different cities of Flores,
which are operational.
A supported farmer group is constantly supplying
tourism businesses (hotel, restaurants and life
abroad) in Labuan Bajo with organic vegetables.
The Farmer group is also providing consultations
to other interested farmer groups to expand and
adopt the same approach. Organic farm training
has been conducted for one farmer group in Egon
village, Sikka. 10 farmers were educated with
organic farm principles and benefits.
Through institutional capacity building the project
supports local community organisation of traditional
villages responsible for managing the village
attractions. The focus was set especially on the way

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22

I am very pleased with

Swisscontacts Sustainable
Cocoa Production Program.
Earlier, I could only produce
around 1.5 tons of cocoa beans
per hectare per year, but now, I
can produce up to 5.4 tons per
hectare per year. Currently, my
cocoa business has expanded
into bean sales, nurseries and
microfinance. I am able to meet
my familys needs and also am
able to send all my six children
to school and university.

Success Story: Astuty And Her Cocoa Farm

a key farmer of the SCPP Program in Indonesia
ASTUTY TUTY SUDARSO (50) is Indonesian, living
in the province of South East Aceh. She is a
tenacious farmer with six children, whose husband
works as a government officer. She started her
cocoa business twelve years ago in a mountainous
area of the Aceh province. She heard about the
soaring cocoa prices at the time, and wanted to start
her own cocoa cultivation. She soon figured that
cocoa farm management and techniques were not
that simple, and her income was not that high.
When she heard about Swisscontacts cocoa
development program, Astuty enthusiastically signed
up for the key farmer selection process. She enrolled

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Asia Regional Report-2012

into the Cocoa Farmer Field Schools (FFS) and

graduated successfully from her 12 days key farmer
training. Astuty started applying these Good
Agricultural Practices (GAP) to her own farm, and
also advised and encouraged other Cocoa FFS
participants to use them. The visible changes and
improvements in her farm were crucial in convincing
other farmers to change their farming techniques.
Astuty was also chosen to represent the Aceh
farmers at the Cocoa Sustainability Partnership
(CSP) General Assembly Meeting in Makassar,
Sulawesi, on December 12, 2012 given her strong
involvement with the program.

The training I received has

broadened my outlook and
increased my knowledge. I am
more confident and motivated
after my training. I wish more
people will be benefitted by the
SkillFUL project.

Success Story: Dipok The Entrepreneur

a graduate of SkillFUL project in Bangladesh
DIPOK CHANDRA PAL is now an entreprenuer in
Kurigram, based in the northern part of Bangladesh.
He had dropped out of school after grade eight and
used to help his father with different part-time work.
Faruk Electrical and Electronic Workshop is a
partner of SkillFUL Project that offers flexible and
affordable competency based training services to the
poor. Dipok, from his father, heard about the training
and went to the Faruk Electrical and Electronic
Workshop and chose to be trained as an Electro
Mechanical Technician.

He paid a minimum amount for his four month long

training. The competency based training provided
theoretical and practical courses. After graduating,
Dipok was placed to receive on-the-job training with
a small electrical store. This helped develop his skills,
knowledge and confidence for wanting to become
an entrepreneur. His parents gave him the start-up
money for his business and now he has a steady
income of USD 210 per month. He believes that he
can do even better in the future.

Asia Regional Report-2012

24

Overview of Projects
Project
Name
Swisscontact
Head Office

Project Manager/
Responsible
Walter Horn
Director,
Asia and Eastern Europe

Overview of Projects
Contact Address

Supported by

ROSEA
Project
Name

Deltschiweg 39, CH-8055 Zrich, Switzerland

Phone +41 44 454 1717
Fax +41 44 4541797
walter.horn@swisscontact.ch

Managing Director
Swisscontact Services AG

Project Manager/
Responsible

Contact Address

Regional Office
South East Asia

Peter Bissegger
Regional Director, South East Asia
Prashant Rana
Deputy Regional Director, South East Asia
Martin Stottele
Head of Operations

Jl. Terusan Hang Lekir II No. 15 Kebayoran Lama, Jakarta 12220, Indonesia
Phone +62 21 7394041
Fax +62 21 7394039
peter@swisscontact.or.id
prashant@swisscontact.or.id
martin@swisscontact.or.id

TAPP

Martin Stottele
Project Manager

Jl. Tanggul, Desa Pngo Raya, Kec. Ulee Kareng 23119,

Banda Aceh, NAD, Indonesia
Phone +62 651 31855, Fax +62 651 31852
martin@swisscontact.or.id

USAID

WISATA

Ruedi Nuetzi
Project Manager

Bali Office:
Jl. Batur Sari 20 SB, Sanur 80228, Bali, Indonesia
Phone +62 361 283 221
Fax +62 361 271145

Swiss State Secretariat of

Economic Affairs (SECO)

SARO
South Asia
Regional Office

Manish Pandey
Regional Director, South Aisa

House 19, Road 11, Baridhara, Dhaka 1212, Bangladesh

Phone +88 02 988 26 63
Fax +88 02 988 33 19
manish.pandey@swisscontact.org.bd

Katalyst

Goetz Ebbecke
General Manager

House 20, Road 6, Baridhara, Dhaka 1212, Bangladesh

Phone +88 02 882 3822, +88 02 886 1416
Fax +88 02 882 9555
goetz.ebbecke@swisscontact-bd.org

UKAid, Swiss Agency for

Development and Cooperation
(SDC), Embassy of the
Kingdom of Netherlands,
Canadian International
Development Agency (CIDA)

Making Markets
Work for
Jamuna,
Padma and
Teesta Chars
(M4C)

Fouzia Nasreen
General Manager

Bogra Office:
CIWM Building (5th Floor), RDA, Bogra
5842, Bangladesh

SDC

Jeoung-Keun Lee
Team Leader

16, Shikkha Bhaban (Ground Floor), Abdul Gani Road

Dhaka 1000, Bangladesh
Phone +88 02 956 9348
jeoungkeunlee@gmail.com

Asian Development Bank

(ADB) and SDC

Supplier Qualification
Project (SQP)

Martin Dietschi
Project Manager

House 19, Road 11, Baridhara, Dhaka 1212 Bangladesh

Phone +88 02 988 26 63
Fax +88 02 988 3319
martin.dietschi@swisscontact.org.bd

GIZ IS

SkillMark

Manish Pandey
Project Manager & Regional Director,
South Asia

House 19, Road 11, Baridhara, Dhaka 1212, Bangladesh

Phone +88 02 988 2663
Fax +88 02 988 3319
belayet.hossain@swisscontact.org.bd

Swisscontact and SDC

Belayet Hossain
National Officer

SkillFUL

NMDP

Labuan Bajo Office :

JL PW Papua Lingkungan I. Kampung Ujung, Labuan Bajo,
Manggarai Barat 86554, NTT, Indonesia
Phone +62 385 41844
Maumere Office :
Jl. Cemara 14, Nangametin Alok Timur, Maumere 86111, Indonesia
Phone +62 382 2700078
ruedi.nuetzi@swisscontact-wisata.org

Dhaka Office:
House 19, Road 11, Baridhara, Dhaka-1212, Bangladesh
Phone +88 02 988 26 63
Fax +88 02 988 33 19
fouzia.nasreen@swisscontact.org.bd

Skills Development
Project (SDP)

TARSAN-CSO

Supported by

Jafar Ahmad Hakim

Project Manager

House 19, Road 11, Baridhara, Dhaka-1212, Bangladesh

Phone +88 02 988 2663
Fax +88 02 988 3319
jafar.ahmad@swisscontact.org.bd

European Union (EU)

Devi Prasad Dahal

Project Manager

House 19, Road 11, Baridhara, Dhaka-1212, Bangladesh

Phone +88 02 988 2663
Fax +88 02 988 3319
devi.dahal@swisscontact.org.bd

EU and SDC

Tim Tuckett
General Manager

Oasis Complex, 49 Dhara, Patan Dhoka, Lalitpur, Nepal

Phone + 977 1 5536144
tim.tuckett@samarth-nepal.com

UKaid

GIZ-RED

Peter Bissegger
Project Manager

Jl. Terusan Hang Lekir II No. 15

Kebayoran Lama, Jakarta 12220, Indonesia
Phone + 62 21 7394041
Fax + 62 21 7394039
peter@swisscontact.or.id

German Agency for

International Cooperation
(GIZ)

CPHP

Roland Pokpahan
Project Manager

JI. Pahlawan No. 14, Ende, Nusa, Tenggara Timur, Indonesia

Phone +62 381 24102
Fax +62 381 24102
roland@swisscontact.or.id

Ford Foundation

Lao PLUS

Buakhai Phimmavong
Project Manager

Ban Naxay, Seysettha District, H 429, Unit 41

P.O. Box 9997, Vientiane Capital, Lao PDR
Phone +856 21 454 650-1
Fax +856 21 454 654
buakhaiedc@gmail.com

Swisscontact Development
Programme

LEDNTT

Meihaar Josiano
Project Manager

Jl. Dewi Sartika No. 6, Ende, Flores NTT, Indonesia

Phone +62 381 24101/2
Fax +62 381 241103, +62 381 241103

Cordaid (The Netherlands)

and Swisscontact

Kantor BPPPMD Kabupaten Sikka

Jl. Mawar No 24, Maumere, Flores, NTT, Indonesia
Phone +62 382 23107
Fax +62 382 23107
josiano@ledntt.swisscontact.or.id
PEKA

Manfred Borer
Project Manager

Jl. Teuku Umar, Lingkungan Glee Geurah No. 1,

Sentui Banda Aceh, NAD, Indonesia
Phone +62 651 41850
Fax +62 651 41207
manfred@swisscontact-aceh.or.id

Economic Development
Financing Facility (EDFF)

READ

Ferry Samosir
Project Manager

Jalan Ahmad Yani No. 14A, Gampong Jawa Muka

Langsa NAD, 24416, Indonesia
Phone +62 641 23601
Fax +62 641 23601
ferry@swisscontact.or.id

Cordaid (The Netherlands)

SCPP

Manfred Borer
Project Manager

Medan Office:
Komplek Taman Setia Budi Indah,
Jl. Chrysant, Blok E No. 76 Medan 20132, Sumatera Utara, Indonesia
Phone +62 061 8229700
Fax +62 061 8229600

SECO,
IDH, and Embassy of the
Netherlands (Jakarta)

Makassar Office:
Gedung Graha Pena , 11th Floor, Kav. 1108-1109
Jl. Urip Sumoharjo No. 20, Makassar 90231,Sulawesi Selatan, Indonesia
Phone/Fax +62 411 421370
manfred@scpp.swisscontact.or.id

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Asia Regional Report-2012

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26

Donors

Asia Management

ADB
Peter Bissegger

Walter Horn

Manish Pandey

Prashant Rana

Martin Stottele

Project Management

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Asia Regional Report-2012

Mukti Zaenal Asikin

Abdul Awal

Manfred Borer

Victoria Carter

Devi Prasad Dahal

Grgoire Delbruyre

Martin Dietschi

Goetz Ebbecke

Manfred Egger

Catharina M. Guntz

Jafar Ahmad Hakim

Mujibul Hasan

Md. Emdadul Haque

Belayet Hossain

Farida Husain

Mohammad
Shahroz Jalil

Meihaar Josiano

Shahnewaz Karim

Markus Kupper

Jeoung-Keun Lee

Fouzia Nasreen

Ruedi Nuetzi

Roland Pakpahan

Ferry Sabam
Samosir

Elvy Setheono

Dollaris R. Suhadi

Etih Suryatin

Vu Phuong Thao

Nicolas Tomecko

Asia Regional Report-2012

28

We Create Opportunities
Swisscontact SARO : House No. 19, Road No.11, Baridhara, Dhaka-1212, Bangladesh
Phone +88 02 9882663, 9887264-5, +88 02 9883496, 9882067, Fax +88 02 9883319
www.swisscontact.org.bd
Swisscontact ROSEA : JI. Terusan Hang Lekir II, No. 15, Kebayoran Lama, Jakarta Selatan 12220, Indonesia
Phone + 62(0)21739 4041, Fax : + 62(0)21739 4039
www. swisscontact.or.id