A Rapid Appraisal of The Implementation of the 2005 Direct Cash Transfer Program in Indonesia: A Case Study in Five Kabupaten/Kota

This report is the result of a rapid assessment of the first phase of the direct cash transfer program that is one part of the fuel subsidy reduction compensation program that is provided to poor households. The early observation and assessment of the administration of this program was needed in order to know the level of achievement of the program and its problems so it can be used as the basis for improving its administration and for planning programs of this type in the future. This assessment was undertaken using a qualitative methodology through in-depth interviews with a number of respondents and the quantitative analysis of secondary data. The investigation results show that time contraints for every phase of the direct cash transfer program, starting from the targeting process, socialization, card distribution, funds allocation to the handling of problems made the implementation appear rushed and its hastiness had an impact on the success of each phase of the implementation. The socialization program is the phase that was assessed as the weakest because it was not done intensively, especially in connection with institutions at the local level that had not yet been formed. In general, other phases of the program implementation proceeded well, although mistargeting triggered the emergence of conflict as the result of social jealousy.