Boosting Aquaculture Livelihoods in Post-Disaster Aceh, Indonesia

The tsunami that struck Aceh Province in Indonesia in 2004 devastated coastal aquaculture livelihoods. The Asian Development Bank-assisted Earthquake and Tsunami Emergency Support Project engaged fish farmers to build and operate four Aquaculture Livelihood Service Centers. The Aceh Aquaculture Communication Center was also set up. With improved aquaculture support services, fish farmers now produce high-value shrimps for export. (No. 23 | January 2010)

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When Size Matters - Improving Microfinance Outreach in Aceh Through a Revitalized Provincial Rural Bank Network

The Asian Development Bank-assisted Earthquake and Tsunami Emergency Support Project aimed, among others, to develop sustainable and responsive financial services for micro and small enterprises in Aceh in Sumatra, Indonesia. By Mariano A. Cordero, Rizal Matondang, and Pieter Smidt (No. 20 | November 2009)

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Mapping the Sea: Knowledge for Natural Resources Management

With loss of life from the devastating tsunami of 2004, knowledge of fishing grounds around Aceh was reduced: the locations of reefs and other underwater hazards became less clear to the remaining fishers; consequently, they frequently damaged or lost their nets. To restore knowledge of fishing grounds, the ADB-assisted Earthquake and Tsunami Emergency Support Project partnered with he Panglima Laot-Aceh's traditional fishing authority and with fishers to conduct a community-based bathymetric survey and map the ocean floor. The beneficiaries collected data to help produce maps of hazardous coastal areas, potential fishing grounds, and ocean currents. Because of the survey, the Panglima Laot and fishers learned to partner with others and their capacity to keep more transparent accounts was improved. By Pieter Smidt and Richard Beresford (No. 19 | October 2009)

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Beyond Emergency Responses: Ensuring the Legacy of Market-Based Microfinance Expansion

The creation of a Microfinance Innovation Fund was a prominent feature of the Earthquake and Tsunami Emergency Support Project in Indonesia. To coopt success, before establishing the Fund, the project provided technical assistance to build the capacity of partner banks, created a Board for the Fund, setup guidelines for operations, extended loans and deposits at near-market rates, and partnered with PT. Permodalan Nasional Madani that assumed the role of Fund custodian. The Microfinance Innovation Fund is set to continue successful fund operations long after project completion. [ No. 17 October 2009 ]
By Mariano A. Cordero, Rizal Matondang, and Pieter Smidt
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Transforming Risk-Averse Banks into Microfinance Champions in a Post-Disaster and Post-Conflict Environment

Adoption of Grameen microfinance technology by risk-averse, development-oriented banks was a prominent feature of the Earthquake and Tsunami Emergency Support Project in Indonesia. The project raised awareness of the potential of microfinancing by sharing good practices, revealing opportunities, conducting exposure trips, providing training and refresher courses, monitoring, and building full commitment at all levels in partner banks in the management and provision of microfinance. [ No. 16 October 2009 ]
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