Hatfield Awarded ADB-Funded Project
for Capacity Building in Indonesia

Indonesia is in the process of decentralizing responsibility for its natural resources sector from the national to district levels. However, local officials require capacity building to carry out their new duties efficiently. With hundreds of projects under its belt in the region—many of these funded by Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs)—Vancouver-based Hatfield Consultants Ltd. was selected by the Indonesian government to carry out a US$700,000 Asian Development Bank (ADB) contract to conduct capacity building for the transfer of natural resources management to local authorities.

Terrestrial and marine resources provide the livelihood for millions of people living in coastal plains of Indonesia and are of global importance due to their rich biodiversity. In order to ensure these critical resources remain sustainable in the long term, development of management strategies is crucial. Delays in establishing a strong local government system would further aggravate serious problems regarding exploitation of critical resources. The goal of Hatfield's ADB-funded project in Indonesia—entitled Capacity Building for Decentralized Natural Resources Management—is to improve environmental management by increasing ownership of resources at the local level, and by providing more opportunities for community participation.

Sustainable management and capacity building
Having completed more than 200 projects in Indonesia, Hatfield's Indonesian subsidiary, Hatfindo, was an ideal candidate for the job. In association with Indonesian executing agencies, the Ministry of Home Affairs, the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries and the National Development Planning Agency, Hatfield is assessing the implications of decentralization measures on provincial and district agencies responsible for planning and managing natural resources. Based on the results of the assessment, the firm will assist the Government of Indonesia to initiate a program that will improve capacity building, particularly at the district (kabupaten) level. The project, which is focusing on seven pilot kabupatens, is expected to wrap up in August 2004.

Another important outcome of the project will be the creation of a model for sustainable natural resources management that can be used by regional governments in their regular planning and development cycles. The model emphasizes environmental considerations and good governance principles, including accountability and transparency in decision making.

Tips on landing MDB-funded work
Hatfield is well known in Southeast Asia's environmental sector and has carried out numerous projects backed by the World Bank and the ADB throughout the region. According to company president Thomas Boivin, winning a first contract with an MDB is akin to landing a consulting job with a large corporation. For both processes, he says, it can take a long time to get a foot in the door. "The best place to start is with the individual project officers at the bank," says Boivin. "The next step is to express formal interest in a newly announced project; this can normally be done on-line through the MDB's Web site. Because the bank's project manager is typically swamped with interested candidates, it is very important to follow up individually with him or her. It takes a while to become known, but once you've won a bid and done a good job, it's much easier the next time."

The Canadian advantage
According to Boivin, Canada's international reputation and the Trade Commissioner Service's support have both contributed to the company's success. "We make good use of the expertise provided by trade staff at our consulates and embassies worldwide, of Team Canada trade missions and of the services of CIDA INC and Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters," says Boivin. "Another edge is the reputation of trust, integrity and fairness that Canada enjoys as a trading partner."

Hatfield serves clients in resource industries such as pulp and paper, forestry, oil and gas, petrochemicals and mining, as well as governments, international financial institutions, and development agencies like CIDA and the Danish International Development Agency. With operations in British Columbia, Alberta, Indonesia, Thailand and Chile, Hatfield is particularly active in western Canada, South America and the Greater Mekong region of Southeast Asia. Hatfield has also established a worldwide reputation for its research on the impacts of low levels of chemical contaminants on the environment. Over the last eight years, the firm has conducted groundbreaking studies in Vietnam on the residual environmental impacts of Agent Orange in close collaboration with Vietnamese health and environmental experts.

For more information, contact:

International Financing Division, International Trade Canada
Tel.: (613) 995-7251
E-mail: ifinet@international.gc.ca

or

Thomas Boivin, President
Hatfield Consultants Ltd.
Tel.: (604) 926-3261
E-mail: tboivin@hatfieldgroup.com
Internet: www.hatfieldgroup.com