Local Legislators Learn Website Development

June 25, 2002

IRI conducted a Web site development training program for local legislators in Denpasar, Indonesia in May as part of IRI's work to assist local legislators in Indonesia implement the country's decentralization program. The Web training helped the Bali provincial legislature (DPRD) function more effectively by improving its internal and external communication.

The workshop focused on document management, database and intranet creation, and Internet and Web site skills, and gave Bali DPRD members tools to effectively organize and manage internal communication. U.S. trainer LaSean Smith conducted the workshop with the assistance of local trainers.

As a result, all DPRD computers are connected, legislation is being placed in a central computerized database, and legislative calendars and other institutional information will be posted on the DPRD intranet. Once the new internal communications systems are operational, the DPRD plans to move from intranet to Internet within a year. In addition, their new Web site is expected to be ready in August.

The Secretary of the DPRD thanked IRI for helping the body make this leap to the next level of technical advancement. IRI will provide additional training to other provincial and local legislative bodies in Indonesia on how they can use technology to improve their effectiveness, efficiency and ability to connect with their constituencies.

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