Strengthening DTSEN Governance for Data-driven Development Planning

The Provincial Government of East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) continues to strengthen governance of the National Socioeconomic Single Data (Data Tunggal Sosial dan Ekonomi Nasional/DTSEN) as a foundation for more targeted policymaking and development planning.

DTSEN is a national database that integrates social and economic information on the population. It is an important reference for development policymaking and delivery of social protection programs, and underpins efforts for better targeting of government interventions.

The management of DTSEN is guided by Presidential Instruction No. 4 of 2025, which mandates national social and economic data that is accurate, up to date, integrated and accountable.

At the provincial government level, NTT has issued Governor’s Decree No. 81/KEP/HK/2026 on the Implementation of DTSEN Management and Use. The decree establishes the implementation structure and clarifies the roles and responsibilities of each provincial agency to classify, process, aggregate, update and use data in line with their respective portfolios.

This effort was advanced through the NTT Provincial Workshop on ‘DTSEN Processing and Use’ held in Kupang on 15–16 July 2026. The workshop brought together government agencies involved in data management and use, including the Office of Communication and Informatics, Regional Development Planning, Research and Innovation Agency, Social Affairs Office, Population and Civil Registration Office and other relevant provincial agencies.

Head of the NTT Provincial Office of Communication and Informatics, Ady Endezon Mandala, said the workshop was organised to build a shared understanding among provincial agencies on DTSEN governance.

Stronger understanding and coordination are essential to ensure that data is managed responsibly and meets the required quality standards. Valid, reliable, accurate and accountable data provides a strong foundation for development planning, policy and program design, government administration, and better public service delivery.

The workshop also provided space for provincial agencies to reassess their data needs. The evaluation identified several areas for improvement, particularly the completeness of information and access to more detailed data, including data by decile group.

Keeping information safe through strong DTSEN governance  

Information security and personal data protection were key areas of discussion. Widaryatmo, a representative of the Directorate of Population and Social Protection at the Ministry of National Development Planning, emphasised that access to data comes with a responsibility to protect its security and confidentiality.

“Once we are granted access to data, we also assume responsibility for maintaining its security and confidentiality and ensuring that it is used in accordance with applicable regulations,” he said.

The management and use of DTSEN must comply with Law No. 27 of 2022 on Personal Data Protection. This is important to ensure that data is used for its intended purpose and within the authority of each provincial agency.

The two-day workshop produced a draft standard operating procedure (SOP) for the NTT Provincial Government’s use of DTSEN. The SOP will guide provincial agencies to access, process, use and safeguard data in accordance with applicable laws and regulations.

Strengthening DTSEN governance complements the NTT Provincial Government’s broader efforts to build a regional development data ecosystem, including through the NTT One Data Portal. The portal provides a platform for integrating and using development data that is updated, verified and managed by provincial agencies to support decision-making.

The NTT Provincial Government’s efforts to strengthen the processing and use of DTSEN are supported by SKALA (Sinergi dan Kolaborasi untuk Akselerasi Layanan Dasar), the Australia–Indonesia partnership program. This support includes strengthening the use of data for development planning and evidence-based policymaking, also developing procedure (SOP) for the NTT Provincial Government’s use of DTSEN.

Stronger DTSEN governance is expected to improve the quality of public services, enhance the effectiveness of regional development, and strengthen the targeting of government programs. It also supports more transparent, accountable and data-driven governance in NTT.