Jakarta, 23 Nov. 2022 — The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) today signed a Letter of Intent with Indonesia’s Ministry of Village, Development of Disadvantaged Regions and Transmigration (Kemendesa PDTT) to adopt the Social Innovation Platform (SIP) as part of efforts to strengthen local development planning processes in the provinces of Maluku, North Maluku and East Nusa Tenggara.

In partnership with the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), the joint initiative aims to foster planning processes that are inclusive, participatory and resilient.  It will build on the IFAD-supported Integrated Village Economic Transformation Project (TEKAD) that aims to empower local communities in eastern Indonesia by fostering an ecosystem where villages are connected to knowledge, markets and support services.

Developed by UNDP in collaboration with Basque, Spain-based Agirre Lehendakaria Center (ALC), SIP is a systems approach that leverages real-time data, human-centric design thinking, and a portfolio of solutions to tackle complex development challenges at the subnational level and help accelerate localization of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG). SIP explores innovative practices that facilitate inclusive participation, and the transformative integrated initiatives, from community action to new regulation.

UNDP piloted the SIP methodology in Indonesia from 2020 through an exercise that involved broad-based stakeholders from fishers, mothers, to micro-business owners and local authorities, to assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and discuss potential solutions. The initiative helped develop a set of solutions supported by the communities, which ultimately enabled, among others, fishers to access alternative markets, and micro business owners to find innovative ways to connect with consumers.

UNDP Indonesia’s Resident Representative, Mr. Norimasa Shimomura noted the importance of an inclusive approach to development, stating that “by adopting, SIP we enable integrated approaches to local development which puts individuals and communities at the heart of the process and outcome and empowers women and vulnerable people. In addition to enhancing local processes for community change, we also foster new forms of civic collaboration aligned with the SDGs.”

In this context, a delegation consisting of the representatives of the Ministry of Village, Local Government Officials, and UNDP and IFAD will participate in a study visit to ALC’s headquarters. The visit will provide insights into best practices adopted by the Basque Government, which adopted SIP to develop socio-economic strategies rooted in local values by empowering local communities in the process.

The Minister of Village, Mr. Abdul Halim Iskandar emphasized the importance of rural development, stating that “around 43 percent of Indonesia’s population live in rural areas. It is critical that we tap into local resources and develop a bottom-up model that includes a wide range of voices from all levels. Given that socio-economic and cultural backgrounds vary among the country’s many villages, SIP offers an opportunity to explore opportunities based on local cultural values where each resident can contribute to the broader development agenda.”

The Government of Indonesia contributes IDR 72 trillion (approximately US$5 billion) annually through the Village Fund to promote development at the village level. It is anticipated that adopting SIP methodology into its planning process can help enhance standards of living while being environmentally conscious, gender inclusive and resilient.

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MEDIA CONTACTS

UNDP Indonesia Communications and Advocacy Specialist, Ranjit Jose, ranjit.jose@undp.org
UNDP Senior Advisor for Program Integration and Development Analysis, Juliaty Sopacua, juliaty.sopacua@undp.org
UNDP Program Integration and Development Analysis Officer, Andaru Zakaria andaru.zakaria@undp.org