Strengthening Gender Mainstreaming to Advance Inclusive Development in Gorontalo

The Government of Gorontalo Province continues to strengthen Gender Mainstreaming (PUG – Pengarusutamaan Gender) through more inclusive development planning practices. In recent years, this commitment has been reflected in the expansion of participation spaces for vulnerable groups, particularly women, across provincial and sub-provincial planning and decision-making processes.

One concrete example is the Gorontalo Government’s implementation of Inclusive Development Planning Forums, which expand broad stakeholder participation in development planning and decision-making. Known locally as Musrenbang Inklusif (Musyawarah Perencanaan Pembangunan Inklusif), these forums serve as strategic platforms to integrate gender, disability, and social inclusion perspectives from the earliest stages of provincial and sub-provincial development planning.

For civil society organisations (CSOs) in Gorontalo, the Inclusive Musrenbang represents an important step toward greater meaningful participation for vulnerable groups. Kusmawati Matara, Director of the Women Institute for Research and Empowerment of Gorontalo (WIRE-G), noted that the forum has fostered more equal communication between communities, CSOs, and local government.

‘The discussions are more open and participatory, allowing women’s groups and other vulnerable communities to convey their aspirations directly,’ she said.

Since 2017, WIRE-G has actively supported women’s groups across Gorontalo, not only on economic issues but also by strengthening women’s participation in development planning and budgeting processes. This support includes working with women’s groups in coastal and upland areas to promote environmental stewardship while strengthening household economic resilience.

From the government side, the Gorontalo Provincial Development Planning Agency (Bappeda – Badan Perencanaan Pembangunan Daerah Provinsi Gorontalo) has emphasised the importance of integrating Gender, Disability, and Social Inclusion (GEDSI) perspectives into strategic planning documents.

Roso Fania Laluto, a planner at Bappeda, explained that strengthening GEDSI perspectives is a key component of preparing the 2025–2029 Regional Medium-Term Development Plan (RPJMD – Rencana Pembangunan Jangka Menengah Daerah).

‘Bappeda is like a kitchen: it is at the centre, where all the preparation for planning occurs. That’s why all planners need to understand GEDSI. This knowledge cannot be limited to just one or two people,’ she explained.

At the implementation level, several provincial and sub-provincial government agencies have also begun applying gender-responsive budgeting in their annual planning processes. Some agencies have developed terms of reference (kerangka acuan kerja) and budgets that reflect gender responsiveness down to the sub-activity level, signalling positive progress in the practical application of GEDSI in Gorontalo.

These ongoing efforts were further strengthened through a formal policy milestone. The Gorontalo Provincial House of Representatives (DPRD – Dewan Perwakilan Rakyat Daerah) officially passed a Regulation on Gender Mainstreaming in January 2026. This endorsement provides a clear legal foundation to ensure that commitments to gender equality move beyond initiatives and practices and are embedded within Gorontalo’s policy frameworks.

The draft regulation underwent all required legislative processes, including juridical and substantive facilitation by the Ministry of Home Affairs (Kementerian Dalam Negeri). This process ensured that the regulation aligns with national policy directions and can be implemented effectively at the provincial level.

The plenary session was chaired by Thomas Mopili, Chair of the Gorontalo Provincial DPRD, who confirmed that the draft regulation had been finalised and jointly approved by the DPRD and the Provincial Government. The regulation will now be submitted to the Governor for formal registration with the central government.

This process of strengthening inclusive development policies and practices has received continuing support in promoting GEDSI perspectives and strengthen participatory spaces in subnational development planning from the Australia–Indonesia Partnership program, Synergies and Collaboration for Accelerating Basic Service Delivery (SKALA – Sinergi dan Kolaborasi untuk Akselerasi Layanan Dasar).

With the enactment of the Gender Mainstreaming Regulation, Gorontalo Province is expected to have a stronger policy framework to ensure that gender perspectives are consistently integrated into development planning, budgeting, and implementation. In the future, collaboration between the provincial government, DPRD, CSOs, and development partners will remain essential to ensure the regulation is implemented effectively and sustainably.