East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) is setting a new standard for inclusive development with the launch of MUSIK KEREN—Musyawarah Perencanaan Pembangunan Inklusif Kelompok Rentan. Officially anchored in Governor Regulation No. 2 of 2025 and supported by the SKALA Program, this groundbreaking forum ensures that the voices of women, persons with disabilities, children, the elderly, and other vulnerable groups are systematically integrated into NTT’s regional planning and budgeting. Unveiled during the 2026 Musrenbang, MUSIK KEREN has already collected over 200 grassroots proposals on education, health, social protection, economic access, and protection from violence. With strong backing from Bappenas and development partners, NTT is now a role model for equitable and participatory governance.
The Aceh One Data Portal (satudata.acehprov.go.id) is a provincial initiative to strengthen data governance and enhance the delivery of basic services through an integrated data platform. Launched on 29 April 2025, the portal consolidates statistical and geospatial data from multiple government agencies to support evidence-based planning, improved inter-agency coordination, and transparent policymaking in Aceh. Aligned with national and provincial regulations, the platform features interactive dashboards, real-time datasets in key sectors such as health and education, and tools for policy analysis. Developed in collaboration with the SKALA Program and integrated with Indonesia’s national One Data system, the portal reflects Aceh’s commitment to accountable, inclusive, and data-informed development.
The Mentari Kaltara Inclusive Dialogue Forum, led by the Government of North Kalimantan with support from the SKALA Program, marked a pivotal move toward inclusive and equitable development in the province. It brought together civil society groups that represent women, children, persons with disabilities, older persons, and indigenous communities, to participate in developing the regional long-term development, and the 2026 work plans. By aligning GEDSI principles with formal government processes and institutionalizing community input, North Kalimantan is setting a strong precedent for people-centered governance.
The SKALA Steering Committee Meeting, held on March 21, 2025, at Bappenas, reinforced the partnership between Indonesia and Australia in enhancing subnational governance and inclusive service delivery. SKALA focuses on public financial management, Minimum Service Standards (SPM), data use, and GEDSI (Gender Equality, Disability, and Social Inclusion). The meeting aligned SKALA’s priorities with Indonesia’s national development agenda under Presidential Regulation No. 12 of 2025. Key achievements since 2023 include improved data quality, better participation of vulnerable groups, and support for efficient budgeting. The Committee emphasized scaling up good practices and institutionalizing reforms, reaffirming both countries’ commitment to sustainable governance improvements.
In celebration of International Women’s Day 2025, SKALA convened a knowledge-sharing event focused on strengthening gender equality within families as a foundation for advancing women’s leadership in Indonesia. Representatives from Bappenas, the Gorontalo Provincial Government, and South-Central Timor shared insights on overcoming cultural and structural barriers, highlighting how family support, inclusive norms, and enabling public policies are critical to fostering women’s independence and leadership. The event reinforced Indonesia’s commitment to the 2025–2029 National Medium-Term Development Plan (RPJMN) and the Golden Indonesia 2045 (Indonesia Emas) vision, particularly in promoting quality families, gender equality, and increased female representation in decision-making at all levels of government and public service.
Indonesia's long-term development plan (2025–2045) envisions inclusive and sustainable growth with social transformation at its core. It aims to ensure that basic services are accessible to everyone, regardless of background, identity, or ability. However, for women, people with disabilities, and other vulnerable groups, this vision often remains out of reach. To bridge this gap, it is essential to incorporate their voices and experiences in the development planning process. A key mechanism for this is the Development Planning Consultation (Musyawarah Perencanaan Pembangunan/Musrenbang), as outlined in Law No. 25/2004 on the National Development Planning System. This bottom-up process empowers communities to set local priorities.
A 2024 United Nations Report states that sea levels have been rising faster since the 20th century compared to previous centuries. In Indonesia, the annual rise is between 0.8 and 1.2 centimetres, according to the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency. These figures are not just statistics, but a reality for coastal areas such as West Nusa Tenggara (Nusa Tenggara Barat/NTB), home to 5.56 million people, 42% of whom live on the coast. Rising sea levels signal the urgent need for action and adaptation to a changing climate. To address this challenge, NTB held a workshop on "Data Innovation: Planning and Budgeting for Climate-Adaptive Basic Services" on 11 November 2024, in Mataram. The workshop combined policy presentations with interactive discussions. Participants mapped risks and opportunities in the health, education, and social sectors.
Indonesia through its Law No. 1 of 2022 which expands the fiscal space for local infrastructure development. The law mandates that by 2027, at least 40 per cent of Local Budgets (Anggaran Pendapatan dan Belanja Negara/APBD) must be allocated for public service infrastructure. North Kalimantan is a strong example of local implementation of this policy. With a fiscal capacity of IDR 3.12 trillion - 69 percent of which comes from central government fiscal transfers - the province has prioritised infrastructure investment. In 2024, North Kalimantan allocated 39.02 percent of its budget to public service infrastructure, including initiatives to expand household access to electricity and renewable energy.
“In West Nusa Tenggara, SKALA has adopted an inclusive policy for its office environment. In the office kitchen, the placement of sugar, coffee, creamer and tea must remain in the same order. If the positions are changed, I might accidentally mix my coffee with tea," joked Jaka Yusuf, SKALA GEDSI Coordinator in West Nusa Tenggara, who is blind. A disability activist who moonlights as a comedian under the name Blindman Jack, Jaka uses comedy—both humorously and satirically—to raise public awareness about disability inclusion.
