Marking Progress, Accelerating Impact through the One Data Learning Forum

Building an interconnected data ecosystem – where data collection, management, analysis and sharing inform inclusive policies and responsive governance – is taking root in Indonesia. The Cross-Province Learning Forum on One Data and Data Utilisation, held in Aceh from 11 to 14 June, marked a key milestone in this journey. Representatives from Aceh, Nusa Tenggara Timur, Gorontalo and Maluku, came together to share lessons from their experiences of implementing the One Data initiative. Co-hosted by the Ministry of Home Affairs’ Centre for Data and Information Systems (Pusdatin Kemendagri) and supported by the SKALA Program – the Australia–Indonesia Partnership for the Acceleration of Basic Services – the forum provided a platform to amplify impact, foster collaboration and promote data-informed governance across Indonesia. 

The Forum was attended by key leaders including Vice Governor of Gorontalo Idah Syahidah Rusli Habibie; Gorontalo Provincial Parliament member Syamsir Djafar Kiayi; SKALA Team Leader Petrarca Karetji; and Head of Aceh’s Office for Communications, Information and Encryption Marwan Nusuf. Aceh hosted the event shortly after it launched the Aceh One Data Portal on 29 April 2025. This enabled the province to share insights with others that plan to develop similar data systems. 

“We are truly pleased to host this forum. We see this visit as an opportunity to build trust and foster collaboration between provinces within the framework of One Data Indonesia. Through exchanges like this one, we can learn from the best practices and innovative approaches suited to each region’s local context and challenges. This kind of collaboration provides a valuable opportunity to strengthen inter-provincial networks, align perspectives on data standards and advance the collective implementation of data-based policies across Indonesia,” said the Assistant for Economic Affairs and Development to the Aceh Provincial Secretary Zulkifli, speaking on behalf of the Governor of Aceh Muzakir Manaf. 

Planting Roots for Indonesia’s Digital Transformation Agenda 

The event aligns with Indonesia’s digital transformation agenda set out in the National Medium-Term Development Plan (RPJMN) 2025–2029, which prioritises accelerating data integration to support targeted, evidence-based development. To advance this agenda, the government has strengthened the implementation of the One Data Indonesia policy through Presidential Regulation No. 39 of 2019 that is further reinforced by the Ministry of Home Affairs Regulation No. 5 of 2024 on Subnational Data Governance. The regulation provides detailed guidance on managing public data at both central and local levels by reinforcing the principles of standardisation, interoperability, metadata and reference codes. 

Head of Data and Information Management at the Centre for Data and Information Systems (Pusdatin), Ministry of Home Affairs, Yeni Indah Susanti, stated that this regulatory framework serves as the foundation for data governance to strengthen the quality of public services, community empowerment and regional competitiveness. 

“To achieve this, local governments must rely on accurate, up-to-date data from a single trusted source. For this reason, the Ministry of Home Affairs promotes the digitalisation of service delivery across 32 areas of regional governance, focusing on access to basic services to improve quality of life; access to economic services to raise household income and regional competitiveness; and strengthening the capacity of local governments and civil servants to make effective use of digital technology,” she said. 

Subnational One Data: A Milestone in the Making 

The learning platform represents a key milestone, not only for the participating provinces, but as proof that meaningful collaboration leads to tangible progress. With the support of SKALA’s technical assistance, capacity building and coordination, its partner provinces have taken concrete steps to restructure their data governance systems. 

• Aceh has made available at least 3,446 standardised datasets, including 484 datasets that support the delivery of basic services in line with Minimum Service Standards. 

• Nusa Tenggara Timur has improved the targeting of social assistance by reducing inclusion and exclusion errors through socio-economic data matching. The initiative has also expanded coverage for beneficiaries supported by provincial budgets. 

• Gorontalo has improved program targeting for low-income communities by using disaggregated data and collaborating with districts to improve health insurance coverage. 

• Maluku has widened the distribution of housing assistance by using disaggregated socio-economic data to better identify eligible households. 

“We are proud to work with local leaders who show real commitment to advancing One Data in Indonesia. When leaders share what works, what doesn’t and why, the learning becomes practical and inspiring. This isn’t just about systems; it’s about building trust and collaborative leadership. Through the SKALA Program, we are committed to supporting the Government of Indonesia in strengthening data governance, interoperability, analysis and utilisation to improve public services,” said Senior Program Manager at the Australian Embassy Riri Silalahi. 

The four-day forum highlighted how each region has built momentum based on its own context and capacity. Inspired by the Aceh experience, the provinces of Gorontalo, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT), and Maluku are in sync in their plan to strengthen local government commitment and engagement down to the district and city levels. They are also aligned in exploring partnerships with universities to support the implementation of the Satu Data Daerah (Subnational One Data) initiative, following Aceh’s model. The three provinces further agreed to continue technical exchanges on managing regional data portals. 

Cross-province learning platforms like this are essential, not only to accelerate the implementation of One Data at the local level, but also to enhance the availability and use of data to deliver inclusive basic services. As part of the event, SKALA also hosted a media briefing to ensure that best practices in data governance reach a broader audience and help journalists better understand the role of integrated data in public policy.