Laying the Foundation for Data-Informed Planning in North Kalimantan

As one of Indonesia’s youngest provinces, North Kalimantan (Kaltara) is proving that age is not a barrier, but rather an impetus for progress. On 27 May 2025, the provincial government launched the Kaltara Satu Data Platform in Tanjung Selor, a strategic step toward inclusive development through stronger data governance. The launch signals a new chapter in which accurate, reliable, and integrated data serves as the foundation for better planning and budgeting.

The initiative aligns with Presidential Regulation No. 39 of 2019 on Satu Data Indonesia and Ministry of Home Affairs Regulation No. 5 of 2024 on Subnational Data Governance (SDPDN). At the provincial level, Governor Regulation No. 30 of 2022 and Governor Decree No. 100.3.3.1/173/2025 formalise the establishment of the Satu Data team and reinforce the province’s commitment to data-driven governance.

The launch of the Kaltara Satu Data Portal is a strategic move to bridge the gap between data and decision making. With consolidated and trusted data, the government can plan and budget more effectively to deliver inclusive and responsive development.

“North Kalimantan recognises the urgency of data integration and standardisation to improve transparency, accountability, and the quality of public governance. This platform will serve as a single, integrated, and accessible source of information for all stakeholders, particularly in supporting development and budgeting processes in the province,” said Governor of North Kalimantan, Dr. H. Zainal A. Paliwang, S.H., M.Hum.

Collaboration and Interoperability for Improved Planning

Collaboration has been central to this initiative. Through the Provincial Satu Data Forum (Satu Data Daerah/SDD), the government collected and verified 1,961 sectoral datasets from local agencies. The process was led by the Satu Data team, comprising the Regional Development Planning Agency (Bappeda) as secretariat, the Communication and Information Office (DKISP) as data custodian, and Statistics Indonesia (BPS) as data authority.

“Satu Data at the subnational level is a key element in aligning national and regional planning. Bappenas fully supports this implementation as a foundation for more accurate, efficient, and well targeted development planning,” said Deputy Secretary for Economic Affairs and Digital Transformation at Bappenas, Rolly Rochmad Purnomo.

The province also introduced E-dataku Sidara Cantik 2.0, an official data platform that offers fast, accurate, free, and transparent access to sectoral data. The platform is designed to integrate with national systems such as SDPDN, Satu Data Indonesia, and SEPAKAT (Bappenas’ national socioeconomic data analysis tool).

“Data integration and interoperability at the subnational level are essential for efficient and evidence based governance. Through SDPDN, the Ministry of Home Affairs supports better data alignment between central and local governments to ensure more effective planning and budgeting,” said Head of Data Management and Information at the Centre for Data and Information Systems, Ministry of Home Affairs, Yeni Indah Susanti, ST, MM.

Data Governance for Inclusive Development

The Kaltara Satu Data platform is grounded in the development principle that no one should be left behind. The province promotes the use of disaggregated data –by sex, disability status, welfare level, and location—to ensure that vulnerable people such as women, people with disabilities, and low income communities are included in planning and budgeting.

These efforts are part of a broader collaboration with SKALA, the Australia-Indonesia Partnership for the Acceleration of Basic Services. The program supports institutional capacity building, sectoral data verification, and data use to improve service delivery and inform evidence based policymaking.

“The Australian Government through the SKALA Program congratulates the Government of North Kalimantan on this outstanding achievement. It reflects strong commitment and collective effort. In today’s digital era, data is more than just numbers; it is a strategic asset for effective planning and impactful policymaking. The Kaltara Satu Data Platform and Sidara Cantik 2.0 portal consolidate data from across government into a single, verified, integrated, and accessible platform so that development can reach all levels of society,” said Counselor for Governance and Human Development at the Australian Embassy in Jakarta, Hannah Derwent.

Through the Kaltara Satu Data Portal, the Government of North Kalimantan is demonstrating that inclusive, transparent, and sustainable development starts with credible and accessible data – data that can be used by government, academia, businesses, media, and communities alike.

Learn more about Kaltara Satu Data in this video: