Gorontalo became the 32nd province in Indonesia in December 2000, based on Law No. 38 year 2000. Agriculture forms the backbone of its economy, with an emphasis on crops like corn, rice, and coconut. However, poverty in Gorontalo remains a significant issue at a rate of 14.57% in 2024, which is higher than Indonesia’s national average. SKALA works with the Gorontalo Provincial Government to strengthen the participation of vulnerable groups in development planning, as well as to improve the use of reliable data and analysis, increase regional financial capacity, and strengthen the quality of public spending. SKALA’s Gorontalo office became operational in October 2023.

Aceh’s Social Service data from 2022 indicates that the province is home to 18,680 persons with disabilities, which is around 0.35% of the 5,570,453 Acehnese population. To address their needs, the Aceh government has issued a Gubernatorial Regulation on the 2024-2029 Regional Action Plan for Persons with Disabilities (RAD PD), and a draft Qanun to better protect and fulfil the rights of persons with disabilities. Through these policy instruments, the Aceh government is mainstreaming disability considerations into the annual work plans of various government units. SKALA supports these government efforts through inputs to help make regional regulations more inclusive, capacity building to enhance stakeholder skills and awareness of disability inclusion, and coordination to increase representation of persons with disabilities in the policy making process.

East Nusa Tenggara (Nusa Tenggara Timur or NTT) was established in 1958 based on Law No. 64/1958. NTT is known for its rich culture and natural beauty which contributes to a growing tourism sector. However, rugged terrain, a semi-arid climate, and disaster risks sometimes hinder access to essential services like healthcare and education. SKALA works with the NTT provincial government to strengthen the participation of vulnerable groups in development planning, strengthen the use of reliable data and analysis, increase regional financial capacity, and strengthen the quality of public spending. SKALA’s NTT office became operational in May 2023.

Inclusion in the workplace starts with a mindset that values diversity, especially in disability inclusion, which emphasizes accessibility and equity in all work aspects. This mindset supports policies that ensure physical accessibility, inclusive recruitment, and strong employee support systems. SKALA’s experiences provide early insights into building a more inclusive environment, highlighting successes and areas for improvement. This note captures key lessons, with examples of initiatives and enhancements from the perspectives of SKALA employees with disabilities.

Established on October 25, 2012, based on Law No. 20/2012, North Kalimantan (Kaltara) is one of Indonesia’s newest provinces. It is classified as an outermost, frontier, and less developed region. SKALA works with the provincial government to strengthen participation of vulnerable groups in development planning, data provision and use, regional fiscal capacity, and quality of public spending. SKALA’s Kaltara office became operational in October 2023.