Monitoring Gender Mainstreaming (PUG) in Fund Transfers to Regions

The SKALA team recently conducted a comprehensive monitoring activity to support the integration of Gender Mainstreaming (PUG) strategies in fund transfers to Maluku Province and Ambon City. These fund transfers are part of the framework of Financial Relations between Indonesia’s Central Government and Regional Governments (HKPD).

Monitoring Activities and Participation

Monitoring activities involved key regional agencies, including the local planning agency (Bappeda), the Women’s Empowerment and Child Protection unit (DP3A), the Regional Financial and Asset Management Agency (BPKAD), and Inspectorate, as well as various other regional implementing units such as for health, education, social services, and for micro, small and medium enterprises. The HKPD PUG Monitoring meeting focused on: (i) Planning and Budgeting, (ii) Budget Implementation, (iii) Monitoring and Evaluation, and (iv) Reporting and Supervision. These focus areas are crucial to providing actionable insights to the Maluku Provincial Government and Ambon City, thereby ensuring that priority programs are well-targeted and meet the needs of vulnerable groups.

Field Visits and Key Findings

During the monitoring process, the Ministry of Finance’s Directorate General of Fiscal Balance (DJPK) team visited several service units including the Women and Child Protection (UPTD) unit in Maluku Province, as well as beneficiaries of disability-related social assistance. These visits highlighted the fact that (i) service units that receive Non-Physical Special Allocation Funds (DAK) reported a lack of flexibility in technical guidelines developed by the central government, which affects fund absorption rates, and (ii) challenges in the distribution of Non-Physical DAK impact the accreditation of the Health Laboratory in Ambon City and in turn service delivery to BPJS Kesehatan (Health Social Security Administration Agency) Users. The Ministry’s presence at the monitoring exercise is a great practice that helps convey these insights to the national level to improve technical guidelines and administrative processes.

Strengthening Implementation of PUG through Collaboration and Reflection

The monitoring process underscored the need to strengthen the roles and functions of both PUG drivers and implementing local government units. Specifically, it emphasized the need to view gender mainstreaming not just as a program but as a strategic approach that requires sustained implementation. The activity also provided a valuable opportunity for the Central Government to reflect on and gather input from regional governments and beneficiaries. Further, the involvement of the Civil Society Network was particularly important, offering grassroots-level insights to enhance policy implementation. The feedback gathered will help ensure that PUG strategies are effectively embedded in regional governance.

Moving Forward with Advocacy and Policy Improvement

The results of HKPD PUG Monitoring serve as a foundation for advocacy efforts with regional leaders and local government units. By raising awareness of the importance of PUG, SKALA aims to foster a commitment to gender mainstreaming across all levels of governance in Maluku Province and Ambon City. Additionally, this monitoring process offers strategic opportunities for policymakers to refine the Regional Transfer Policy in Gender Mainstreaming based on feedback from regional governments and civil society.

The involvement of various stakeholders, including SKALA, in these meetings has already had an impact, increasing the Maluku Provincial Government’s awareness of the importance of PUG. This is evidenced by their commitment to drafting a PUG Regional Regulation to ensure the strategy’s implementation across all related local government units. Also, the creation of communication and reflection spaces between the Central Government, Regional Governments, and Civil Society Networks on the implementation of gender mainstreaming in DAK will contribute to inclusive policy development.

SKALA will continue its collaborative efforts to enhance gender mainstreaming in regional governance, ensuring that all priority programs are effectively targeted and meet the needs of vulnerable groups in Maluku Province and Ambon City.