The SKALA Program Officially Launched In West Nusa Tenggara Province

On 23th of May 2023, the Government of Indonesia and Australia inaugurated the commencement of the SKALA Program in West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) Province. The launching event was marked by the striking of the gong by the Vice Governor of NTB, DR. Hj. Sitti Rohmi Jalilah, MPd., at the governor’s office, Mataram City. During the launching event, Ibu Sitti Rohmi Djalilah expressed her appreciation for the commitment of the Australian Government to continue to support NTB’s development in the last 10 years.

She also expresses her wishes that the SKALA Program will be able to contribute towards accelerating the quality improvement of basic services for the poor and vulnerable in NTB Province. On the same occasion, Minister Counsellor Governance and Human Development of the Australian Embassy, Ibu Madeleine Moss said that the Australian Government disbursed a budget of around Rp. 1.5 trillion to finance the SKALA Program, which will work in 8 provinces in Indonesia, including NTB.

SKALA Team Leader Petrarca Karetji, who was also present at the launching event, said that the SKALA Program aims to support poverty and inequality reduction in Indonesia through increasing the availability of basic services for the poor and vulnerable in disadvantaged regions. The SKALA program will focus on providing support to improve the quality of basic service governance through strengthening regulations/policies, strengthening public financial management, strengthening data management systems supporting development management, and strengthening the participation of women and vulnerable groups in development decision making. The SKALA program will partner strongly with the local governments to make that happen, he concluded.