With the assistance of several community-based organizations, the Jakarta Legal Aid Institute (LBH) has prepared a policy paper to support a participatory approach for the development of community-based green areas. The proposal argues that the participatory approach is more efficient and humane compared to the city administration's top-down approach.

"Greater efficiency is the key benefit of the participatory approach," said LBH representative Nurkholis Hidaya.

The LBH policy paper on open and participatory development in expanding green areas compares the advantages of using the administration's current approach and the participatory approach promoted by the community.

The paper argues the administration is currently paying approximately Rp 6.7 billion (US$670,000) from the city budget to pursue its agenda. Using the alternative participatory approach, the administration would only need to pay Rp 2.5 billion for the same benefits. The paper claims this would be attributed to a more efficient use of community resources (see table).

"The administration could save time as well as money using this approach," said Nurkholis. "The concept will cut red tape, therefore, it will hasten the process of the development."

The policy paper says key areas of enhanced budget efficiency resulting from the participatory approach will be maintenance and security.

"Involving communities could allow the administration to reduce the maintenance and security budget as communities would take responsibility for these functions," Nurkholis said.

To prepare the policy paper, the LBH cooperated with several organizations which have a track record in assisting poor communities across the capital. These include Urban Poor Consortium (UPV) and Jakarta's Indonesian Forum for the Environment (Walhi). Previously, Selamet Daryoni of Walhi said the communities most often subject to evictions had the capacity to contribute and be involved in the development process.

"The key is to give them access to information and allow them to participate," said Nurkholis. "The openness of the participatory approach would generate a lot of smart ideas from the communities."

He said the communities would often be willing to financially invest in development projects if they could clearly see how the development would benefit them.

"I'm sure they are ready to cooperate if the administration opens access to information," he said.