Indonesia--Harvard University: lessons from a long-term technical assistance project

摘要

On 30 June 2000 the Economic Analysis Project, housed in the Ministry of Finance in Jakarta, closed its doors, ending over 30 years of technical assistance delivered through one agency, the Harvard Institute for International Development (HIID). Onthat same date the Institute was reorganised and effectively ceased to exist as a separate University entity. Although no other HIID project lasted as long as the Indonesia project, the Institute has provided technical assistance to a large number of developing economies, often remaining in a country for an extended period. In this regard Harvard University's overseas advisory work has probably been unique. Harvard University first became involved in overseas economic development work in 1954 when it agreed to provide technical assistance to the Planning Commission of the Government of Pakistan. This initial effort, together with an Iran project that followed, was administered by the Graduate School of Public Administration. In 1962 the University established the Development Advisory Service to oversee a growing portfolio of overseas activities, including projects in Argentina, Colombia, Liberia, Ghana and Greece, as well as Indonesia. Between 1962 and 1974, when it was transformed into HIID, the Development Advisory Service had administered some 17 projects in 14 countries. Most of the funding for these activities came from the Ford Foundation and the United Nations Development Programme, as well as from the host countries. At the time of its dissolution HIID had activities in 12 countries, including Mozambique, the Ukraine, Vietnam, India and Ghana, in addition to the ongoing Bank Rakyat Indonesia project.