Service Delivery and Financial Management in a New Province : Gorontalo Public Expenditure Analysis 2008

Abstract

As one of Indonesia's recently
 established provinces, 2001 Gorontalo has faced numerous
 challenges, the most daunting being one of the
 country's highest levels of poverty. Gorontalo's
 sub-national governments shoulder a heavy responsibility in
 ensuring the rapid development of the region, alleviating
 poverty and improving the provision of basic public services
 especially in education and health and making sure those
 services reach the poorest and most vulnerable groups. In
 performing these crucial tasks, the success of sub-national
 governments depends to a large degree on three factors: the
 ability of sub-national governments to define and then
 translate their visions for development into effective
 development plans; the existing capacity of the government
 bureaucracy; and the availability of budgetary resources. A
 clear and well-articulated vision is needed to guide
 regional development, one that should serve to synergize the
 efforts of multiple stakeholders to make full use of the
 latent potential that exists in Gorontalo. Moreover, for a
 region with limited resources such as Gorontalo, strong
 leadership is needed to encourage the people to make the
 best possible use of those resources in providing a better
 future to all levels of society. This report can benefit the
 provincial and district governments of Gorontalo, as well as
 other regional governments, in serving as a reference tool
 for reform efforts in regional public financial management
 and regional development planning. Ultimately, this report
 can contribute towards better management of regional public
 finances and government bureaucracy, leading to new
 standards in effective entrepreneurial government.