The Head of the Institute for International Cooperation at HSF conducted a duty travel to Indonesia from Friday 02.09 to Tuesday 06.09 and Monday the 12.09.2011. During his visit he was given insights of the various ongoing projects of HSF Indonesia, discussed further steps that should be taken and set the stage for the establishment of new future projects. Furthermore he met with different partners of HSF in Jakarta to discuss the latest developments and projects in Indonesia. Mr. Christian Hegemer was Director of Hanns Seidel Foundation Indonesia from 1996 until 2008 and established the main platform for the HSF project with its components: Support for Environmental Education, Strengthened Legal Framework as well as cooperation with regional organizations such as ASEAN, UNEP-Bangkok and ASEF. Main cornerstones of his travel were the following:

• Joint dinner with the former president of the Republic of Indonesia, Prof. Dr. B. J. Habibie in his residence. At this business dinner he discussed plans for a future cooperation between HSF, Professor Habibie and the Habibie Center which was founded by the former president himself. This cooperation shall focus on improved support for a strengthened legal framework, democratization and civic education as well as possible collaborations in small-scale sustainable ecological projects through alternative forms of energy.
• Round-table discussion with the German Vice Ambassador, Ms. Heidrun Tempel, and further representatives of the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany, especially from the German Development Cooperation. This discussion focused on the general political development in Indonesia and possible indicators for improved economic and political relations between Indonesia and Germany, as well as possible forms of cooperation in the field of Environmental Education. A starting point for an improved cooperation in the last mentioned field could be the joint use of funds from the Ministry of Economic Cooperation for Environmental Education programs, which should be managed by the German International Cooperation (GIZ) and Hanns Seidel Foundation in Indonesia.
• Meeting with a team of environmentalists of NGO’s, universities and stakeholders related to Environmental Education. This team, which had been established under the former head of Hanns Seidel Foundation Indonesia, Mr. Christian Hegemer, contributed significantly to the issue of a new module for teachers and students on “Climate Change – Education for Sustainable Development”. These materials are until now unique in Indonesia and shall be used at schools in this country but also worldwide.

The highlight of his visit however was the signing ceremony of a Memorandum of Understanding with representatives of the Indonesian Ministry of Justice and Human Rights (Kementerian Hukum dan HAM/MenHumKam) and Hanns Seidel Foundation in Indonesia. This agreement is emphasizing the supports of capacity building measures in legal drafting and law litigation and their conformity with the Indonesian constitution. The first step of this program will be implemented soon. In October 2011 a training related to the above mentioned topics will be held for staff of this ministry and in November 2011 the former German constitutional judge, Prof. Dr. Sigfried Bross, will conduct a lecturing in the Ministry of Justice and Human Rights on main principles of the German Basic Law (constitution).