Learning from Yogyakarta, Papua Barat Strengthens Gender Mainstreaming

The Special Region of Yogyakarta’s experiences in integrating a gender perspective into public administration has become a source of inspiration for the Papua Barat Provincial Government. Upon returning from an observe-imitate-modify study visit to Yogyakarta, the Papua Barat Provincial Government followed up on these lessons by establishing a Gender Mainstreaming (PUG) Coaching/Mentoring Team as a driver for the implementation of more inclusive policies.

“We must start PUG by creating a strong Coaching Team, because that is the key,” said Head of the Human Resources and Government Division at Bapperida Papua Barat, Deassy D. Tetelepta.

The establishment of this new team was decided through a coordination meeting of PUG driving agencies held in Manokwari on 12 June 2026. The coordination meeting, initiated and chaired by the Papua Barat Province Regional Agency for Development Planning, Research, and Innovation (Bapperida), involved the Office of Women’s Empowerment, Child Protection, and Family Planning (DP3AKB); the Regional Financial and Asset Management Agency (BPKAD); the Inspectorate; academics, as well as the SKALA Program Team.

The experience in Yogyakarta has provided new confidence for the ranks of the Papua Barat Provincial Government that gender-responsive public administration is a tangible practice that can be applied to improve the quality of development.

Coaching Team – engine for gender mainstreaming

In Yogyakarta, the Coaching Team functions as technical mentors for OPDs. They assist with the preparation of planning documents, ensure the availability of disaggregated data as a basis for determining program targets, and evaluate the benefits of activities for all community groups without discriminating by age, sex, ethnicity or disability status.

The Coaching Team is the engine that drives optimal implementation of gender mainstreaming. The successes in Yogyakarta likewise came from relationship-building running alongside technical capacity—a fluid and communicative approach over formalised instruction makes mentoring run more effectively.

“We are used to contacting OPDs via WhatsApp to remind them about ToR preparation,“ said Kumala, a member of the Yogyakarta PUG Coaching Team.

On the other hand, Yogyakarta also has a PUG Driving Team consisting of elements from Bapperida, BPKAD, the Inspectorate and DP3AP2. This team has the strategic authority to oversee PUG implementation through the planning, budgeting and program evaluation processes in every OPD.

“We are accustomed to eating together, visiting each other‘s offices, and even giving a birthday cake to the Inspector; good relationships make coordination much easier,” said Head of DP3AP2 Yogyakarta, Erlina Hidayati.

Intensive communication with the Governor, Deputy Governor and Regional Secretary strengthens political commitment to PUG implementation. This support is realised through various regional regulations, including regional bylaws, governor’s regulations, regional secretary circulars and the awarding of prizes to OPDs with the best performance in PUG implementation.

Adapting approach for Papua Barat context

Papua Barat has learned a great deal from Yogyakarta’s experience, but there is no intention of copying the approach as-is. The regional government intends to adjust its approach to suit local capacities and circumstances.

In Yogyakarta, the Coaching Team is under DP3AP2. Meanwhile, in Papua Barat, it is placed under the coordination of Bapperida, involving DP3AKB, the Inspectorate and BPKAD. This model was chosen by considering the readiness of human resources as well as the need for strengthening of cross-agency coordination.

The Papua Barat mentoring team is planned to consist of state civil apparatus (ASN) from Bapperida, DP3AKB, BPKAD, and the Inspectorate, who provide gender analysis in development planning. These organisations will play a role in providing mentorship to OPDs in preparing the Regional Action Plan for Gender Equality Development (RAD-PKG), gender-responsive ToRs and other planning documents.

In its implementation, the Coaching Team will provide consultation and mentoring services to OPDs, including in the preparation of planning documents and gender-responsive ToRs; ensuring the use of disaggregated data in determining program targets; and assisting in the preparation of reports that contain the challenges, achievements and benefits of programs for various community groups.

For Papua Barat, the experience from Yogyakarta serves as an inspiration to build a public administration system that is gender-responsive and inclusive, ensuring that development policy and programs are able to reach every citizen.