“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.
The Vision of Golden Indonesia 2045, outlined in the National Long-Term Development Plan 2025–2045, prioritizes gender equality and inclusive societies. These objectives are reflected in the "Asta Cita," the eight aspirations of the president and vice president, particularly Asta Cita 4, which focuses on gender equality, human resource development, and strengthening the role of women, youth, and people with disabilities. Within this framework, the Gorontalo Provincial Government, supported by the Australia-Indonesia Partnership Program SKALA, is improving services for victims of gender-based violence (GBV).
As part of the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence campaign, SKALA hosted a Knowledge Sharing Session on “Gender-Based Violence (GBV) and Access to Basic Services” on November 26, 2024. The event featured founder of Yayasan Bumi Sehat Robin Lim, and Expert Staff to the Minister of Women's Empowerment and Child Protection in Legal and Human Rights Affairs Indra Gunawan, who shared insights and lessons on addressing GBV.
Indonesia has prioritised gender mainstreaming (Pengarusutamaan Gender or PUG) with the issuance of Presidential Instruction No. 9 of 2000 on Gender Mainstreaming in Regional Development. In Maluku, technical regulations, such as the Governor’s Decree No. 200 of 2019, established the Gender Mainstreaming Working Group. Recognizing the need for dedicated regulations, the Maluku Provincial Government began drafting a Provincial Regulation on Gender Mainstreaming (Perda PUG) in 2021. SKALA supported this effort through technical inputs in partnership with the National Development Planning Agency (Bappenas) and the Ministry of Women's Empowerment and Child Protection (KPPPA) to create a foundation for gender-responsive planning in Maluku.
The Provincial Government of North Kalimantan is committed to improving accessibility and inclusive services for vulnerable groups through a pioneering tax relief initiative for disability-modified vehicles, that is, vehicles designed for people with disabilities. This effort is anchored by Provincial Regulation (Perda) No. 1 of 2024 and Governor Regulation (Pergub) No. 25 of 2024, which provides implementing guidelines. Through this regulation, the Accessibility and Tax Discount System for People with Disabilities in Bumi Benuanta (SADAR Benuanta) was developed and marks a key step toward greater inclusivity in North Kalimantan.
Down Syndrome, an intellectual disability, is often misunderstood, leading many to see people with the condition as unable to contribute meaningfully. However, with greater awareness, we can break these stigmas and recognise the unique talents and creativity of people with Down Syndrome. In honor of Down Syndrome Awareness Month, SKALA organised a knowledge-sharing session on “The Potential for Independence and Inspiration” to challenge these misconceptions.
To address challenges related to fragmented data systems, the Aceh government has established platforms such as the Village Information System (SIGAP) and the Aceh Open Data Portal. In collaboration with SKALA, the provincial government is strengthening its data infrastructure so that evidence to plan, budget, provide, and monitor basic services is available, accurate and accessible. On October 10, 2024, Gita Kamath, the Deputy Head of Mission at the Australian Embassy in Jakarta, visited the Aceh Communication, Informatics, and Cryptography Service (Diskominsa).
Gender-responsive budgeting (GRB) is an important tool to ensure that government policies and financial decisions promote gender equality. It integrates gender considerations into all stages of budgeting and addresses disparities between men and women by ensuring that public resources are allocated in a fair and equitable way. In Indonesia, both central and regional governments are working to enhance gender mainstreaming in their budgeting processes. SKALA, in collaboration with the Ministry of Finance’s Directorate General of Fiscal Balance (DJPK), is contributing to this effort.
The 2024 Asia-Pacific Regional Conference (APRC) on Population Ageing in Bali, held from 11 to 13 September, brought together about 500 delegates from 38 countries. The conference explored the theme of Reframing Ageing and foster dialogue on strategies that prioritize fairness and equity for present and future older generations.
