Latest
Press Release
29 September 2022
Turning the Tide for Ocean Sustainability
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Speech
22 September 2022
Vision Statement of Secretary-General in Transforming Education: An urgent political imperative for our collective future
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Press Release
22 September 2022
For the People, Planet, Prosperity, Peace and Partnership: United Nations Boost its Cooperation with Indonesia
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Latest
The Sustainable Development Goals in Indonesia
The United Nations is committed to working with the Government of Indonesia to building a nation that is prosperous, democratic, and just, where development benefits all people, and where the rights of future generations are protected. True to the promise of the SDGs to “leave no one behind”, the UN’s approach combines a strong focus on the poorest of the poor, combatting discrimination and rising inequalities and addressing their root causes. “Leaving no one behind” means prioritising people’s dignity and placing the progress of the most marginalised and vulnerable communities first. This central and transformative promise has become more important than ever to address the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and work towards a sustainable, resilient, and inclusive recovery.
Publication
01 August 2022
UN in Indonesia Newsletter Volume 5 2022
Dear readers,
Welcome to our latest edition.
Our world faces multilayered challenges: climate change, COVID-19, complex conflicts, and rising inflation. We have seen COVID-19 cases multiplying in Indonesia in recent months, at the same time as the war in Ukraine has disrupted food security and inflation is skyrocketing.
Globally, there is sufficient food, energy, and finance for every country to make it through the interconnected crises created by this war. Still, profound inequalities and distribution and logistics problems are causing millions of people to suffer needlessly.
Solving these crises calls for coordinated action across the board. On July 22, the UN helped foster Ukraine and Russia’s deal to resume Ukrainian grain exports via the Black Sea that UN Secretary-General António Guterres called “a beacon of hope” in a world that desperately needs it. Earlier this year, the Secretary-General formed a group of champions comprised of six eminent world leaders – including President Joko Widodo – as part of the Global Crisis Response Group (GCRG) for immediate action to avert the looming crisis. The Champions are charged with advancing a global consensus on measures to prevent, mitigate and respond to the crisis.
This week’s newsletter edition contains a profile of GCRG and its four urgent areas of action. There are also highlights from UN agencies in Indonesia’s efforts to fast-track recovery from COVID-19. For example, UNICEF is calling for urgent action to address the learning crisis as Indonesian children return to school. Meanwhile, ILO joined forces with the hospitality industry to mainstream COVID-19 risk assessment services. This will help businesses including hotels to implement action plans that minimise the risks of virus transmission in the workplace.
We hope the work highlighted in this edition serves as an inspiration for us to work together and empower those who are at risk from these crises while leaving no one behind.
Thank you, and happy reading.
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Publication
27 April 2022
United Nations in Indonesia Country Results Report 2021
This report highlights the cordial relationship between the Government of Indonesia and the United Nations System in working together to advance Indonesia’s development agenda and priorities, particularly the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 2030 and Indonesia’s National Medium-Term Development Plan (RPJMN) 2020-2024. The Report includes the progress and accomplishments to deliver four outcomes of the UNSDCF 2021-2025: (i) Inclusive Human Development; (ii) Economic Transformation; (iii) Green Development, Climate Change and Natural Disasters; and (iv) Innovation to Accelerate Progress towards the SDGs.
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Press Release
01 August 2022
World Breastfeeding Week: UNICEF and WHO Urge Greater Support for Breastfeeding in Indonesia as Rates Decline During COVID-19
Jakarta, 1 August 2022 – As World Breastfeeding Week begins today, UNICEF and WHO are urging the government and partners in Indonesia to support mothers with early, exclusive and continued breastfeeding amid a decline in breastfeeding rates during the COVID-19 pandemic.
According to data from the 2021 National Basic Health Research Survey (RISKESDAS), 52.5 per cent – or only half of 2.3 million infants of less than six months of age – are exclusively breastfed in Indonesia, representing a 12 per cent decline from 2019. The early initiation of breastfeeding rate also decreased from 58.2 per cent in 2019 to 48.6 per cent in 2021.
Early and exclusive breastfeeding is crucial to child survival and protects children against childhood malnutrition as well as many common and life-threatening illnesses such as diarrhoea and pneumonia. Growing evidence shows that breastfed children perform better on intelligence tests, are less likely to be obese or overweight, and are less prone to diabetes later in life. Increasing breastfeeding globally could save more than 820 000 children each year and prevent an additional 20 000 cases of breast cancer in women annually.
Breastfeeding is even more critical now as the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic has strained the health system in Indonesia, making counselling and skilled lactation support far less accessible. A national survey by the Ministry of Health with support from UNICEF in 2021 found that less than 50 per cent of mothers and caregivers of children under the age of two received breastfeeding counselling during the pandemic. The situation has been worsened by ongoing practices of inappropriate marketing of breastmilk substitutes.
“Optimal breastfeeding practices are key to reduce stunting in children less than five years of age, to achieve the global and national target of reducing stunting by 40 per cent. Early initiation and continuation of exclusive breastfeeding for six months provides protection against gastrointestinal infections and necessary nutrients to prevent stunting," said WHO Representative Dr N. Paranietharan. “Continued breastfeeding after six months up to two years along with complimentary feeding is the most adequate and safest way to prevent growth faltering and ensure cognitive development in this critical phase of life," he said.
“Breastfeeding is one of the most effective ways to safeguard child and maternal health and provides all children with the best start in life," said Acting UNICEF Representative Robert Gass. “Amid the global pandemic, it is essential that all stakeholders continue to protect, promote and support breastfeeding, which is a proven life-saving strategy and the foundation for a healthy, smart and productive society."
In line with this year’s theme for World Breastfeeding Week, Set Up for Breastfeeding: Educate and Support, WHO and UNICEF are calling for greater efforts from a range of stakeholders – including government at national and sub-national level, policy makers across various sectors, media entities and communities – to support mothers to continue optimal breastfeeding practices and scale up investments needed to promote and protect breastfeeding. These include:
Making counselling available to all mothers and caregivers of children under the age of two through both face-to-face and digital platforms.
Revitalizing and scaling up the implementation of the Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding at all levels of the health system that provide maternity and newborn services.
Strengthening the implementation and monitoring of the International Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes.
UNICEF and WHO remain committed to support the government in protecting, promoting and supporting optimum breastfeeding practices by sharing tools and resources to help adopt the Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding, strengthening the country’s capacity to scale up access to quality breastfeeding counselling services, and generating evidence to foster stronger measures against inappropriate marketing of breast-milk substitutes.
During the pandemic, UNICEF and WHO encourage mothers with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 and who are isolated at home to continue breastfeeding and practice skin-to-skin contact with necessary hygiene precautions during feeding. Mothers also need to be supported to continue breastfeeding if their infant or young child becomes sick with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 or any other illness.
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Press Release
27 July 2022
KOICA and UNOPS Partner to Strengthen Indonesia’s COVID-19 Response
The Korean International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), in partnership with the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS), supported the Indonesian Ministry of Transportation in strengthening COVID-19 prevention measures in railway facilities across the country.
Since 14 December 2021, KOICA and UNOPS have been working to support the Government of Indonesia’s Ministry of Transportation and the Jakarta Light Rail Transit (LRT), through the procurement of hygiene materials concerning railways safety, public health items for mass transportation, and audit and safety inspection equipment, to respond to the logistical and transportation challenges created by the spread of COVID-19 in the country.
The handover event - held at Hotel Harris in Bekasi on 26 July 2022 - marked the official delivery of all project items to the Ministry of Transportation. Attended by Dr. Edi Nur Salam, Director of Railway Safety for the Republic of Indonesia and Yun Gil Jeong, Country Director for KOICA Indonesia and others, the event included speeches by Dr. Edi Nur Salam and Yun Gil Jeong, as well as singing Indonesia Raya, prayers and the symbolic delivery of the KOICA Grant in the form of Safety Inspection Equipment, Occupational Health Equipment, and Health Equipment for train stations.
Project Impact:
Aimed at strengthening the COVID-19 response capacity of both LRT stations in Jakarta and railway facilities around the country, the project has sought to improve hygienic conditions for the public, and enable a safer working environment for Transportation Government Staff through the delivery of COVID-19 prevention items. The distributed items - which included Air Filtration Systems, Air Purifier Masks, Thermal Scanner Equipment, Oxygen Concentrators, and UV Light Sterilizers for escalators - are set to ensure early detection of cases, disinfect surfaces and limit the spread of infection through close contact; thereby minimizing the risks of possible transmission of the virus in stations. The new installations are expected to enhance the safety and support the work of 6,000 Transportation Government Staff, in addition to the estimated 315,075 passengers using LRT services every day.
With $660,000 in funding, the project represents Phase 2 of the Joint Partnership between KOICA and UNOPS, building on the previous work of Phase 1 that sought to support Indonesia’s Ministry of Transportation and Ministry of Health and the Indonesian National Board for Disaster Management (BNPB) strengthen the country’s health infrastructure systems by equipping hospitals with medical equipment and medical supplies for COVID-19 patients. Through the procurement of N95 masks, PCR machines, testing kits, and more, Phase 1 was instrumental in helping the Ministry of Transportation, Ministry of Health, and BNPB in strengthening the health preparedness and COVID-19 response of the healthcare system in Indonesia, and effectively and timely prevent and treat COVID-19 cases.
Speaking about the project:
Mr. Yun Gil Jeong, KOICA Indonesia Country Director, said: “the donation of the distributed items is expected to strengthen the partnership of both countries by improving the hygiene of LRT and mass transportation in Indonesia. KOICA has a commitment to continue supporting the government of Indonesia in fighting the spread of Covid-19 in the LRT, in the train, and in the stations. “
Ms. Samina Kadwani, UNOPS Director for Indonesia, Thailand, Papua New Guinea and the Pacific, said: “UNOPS, in partnership with the Korean International Cooperation Agency, is proud to contribute to the strengthening of public health systems in Indonesia through the efficient delivery of health and hygiene items that will protect both passengers and workers of railway facilities across the country. “
Mr. Zulfikri, Director General of Railways, said: “The Ministry of Transportation greatly appreciates the donation from KOICA and for sure, it will give high benefits for all passengers of mass transportation in Indonesia. We are thankful to KOICA for choosing the Ministry of Transportation as the partner of this grant.”
ENDS
Notes to the editors:
Photos of the project can be found here - credit: @UNOPS/KOICA
Press contact details:
KOICA: For media inquiries, please contact: Dian Mardiana, Program Manager (dianmardiana@overseas.koica.go.kr)
UNOPS: For media inquiries, please contact: Ffion Conlon, Communications and Partnerships Officer (ffionc@unops.org)
About KOICA: KOICA was established as a governmental agency of the Republic of Korea under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1991. It implements Korea's grant aid and technical cooperation programs for inclusive and sustainable development of partner countries. Main areas of operations include education, health, rural development, public administration, and technology environment and energy. KOICA manages its ODA programs through its country offices in 44 partner countries. Read more: http://www.koica.go.kr
About UNOPS:
UNOPS mission is to help people build better lives and countries achieve peace and sustainable development. We help the United Nations, governments and other partners to manage projects, and deliver sustainable infrastructure and procurement in an efficient way. We respond to our partner’s needs in the world’s most challenging environments, by combining the best of the UN and the private sector, as we build foundations for countries to achieve sustainable development.
Read more: www.unops.org
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Speech
08 July 2022
Video Message by António Guterres to G20 Foreign Ministers “Strengthening Multilateralism"
Excellencies,
This G-20 meeting comes at an extremely challenging moment for multilateralism and global governance.
The international order is at risk of coming apart at the seams.
The climate crisis is close to the point of no return.
The COVID-19 pandemic has killed millions; hunger and poverty are rising; years of development gains are being lost.
A multi-faceted war is raging in the heart of Europe, in violation of the United Nations Charter.
New and evolving forms of conflict, including in cyberspace, require multilateral solutions and frameworks that do not yet exist.
Our unequal global financial system, designed by rich and powerful countries, is failing the developing world.
Poorer countries pay much higher borrowing costs than developed countries – and their economies are downgraded when they consider restructuring their debt or applying for debt relief.
Meanwhile, unequal access to vaccines has prolonged the COVID-19 pandemic, contributing to continued suffering and death.
Excellencies,
Strengthening multilateralism – the theme of this session – is not a choice, but a necessity.
It is the only way to avoid widespread food shortages, deepening climate chaos, and a wave of poverty and destitution that will leave no country untouched.
I see three areas for urgent multilateral action:
The growing climate emergency; the food, energy and finance crisis; and the unequal recovery from the pandemic.
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The climate crisis is our number one emergency.
The battle to keep the 1.5-degree goal alive will be won or lost by 2030.
You represent the major economies – and 80 percent of global emissions.
The responsibility for preventing the worst impacts of the climate crisis rests largely on your shoulders.
Science tells us that global emissions need to decline by 45 percent below 2010 levels by 2030, to keep 1.5 degrees goal alive.
But current national climate pledges would result in an increase in emissions of 14 percent by 2030.
This is collective suicide.
We need a renewable energy revolution. Ending the global addiction to fossil fuels is priority number one.
No new coal plants.
No expansion in oil and gas exploration.
I have appealed for the creation of [coalitions] around emerging economies to provide financial and technical support, as they accelerate the transition to renewable energy.
Important progress is being made – but much more is needed on all fronts. Emerging economies must have access to the resources and technology they need.
Wealthier countries must finally make good on the $100 billion climate finance commitment to developing countries, starting this year.
We also need a radical boost for adaptation and early warning systems.
And access and eligibility frameworks must be reviewed, so developing countries, including middle-income countries, can get the finance they need on time.
Excellencies,
Second, the food, energy and finance crisis.
Around the world, the war in Ukraine is amplifying other crises and threatening to unleash social and economic devastation.
Food prices are at near-record highs. Fertilizer prices have more than doubled.
There is a real risk of multiple famines this year.
Next year could be even worse.
Without fertilizers, shortages could spread from corn and wheat to all staple crops including rice, with a devastating impact on billions of people.
Meanwhile, record high energy prices are already triggering blackouts and fuel shortages.
We need to work together to bring stability to global food and energy markets and support developing economies.
Ukraine's food production, and the food and fertilizer produced by Russia, must be brought back into world markets -- despite the war.
We are working to find a plan that allows for the safe and secure export of Ukrainian-produced food through the Black Sea, and unimpeded access to global markets for Russian food and fertilizers.
We have been coordinating closely with all parties, including many of your governments.
I thank you for your continued cooperation.
But even as we try to increase supplies, we need to make resources and fiscal space available now for the poorest countries and communities.
The global financial system must use all the instruments at its disposal, with flexibility and understanding, to achieve this.
Excellencies,
There is no solution to this finance crisis without a solution to the ongoing crisis of economic inequality in the developing world.
Which brings me to my third area for urgent multilateral action: the unequal recovery.
Many developing countries have suffered devastating economic losses during the pandemic, but cannot access finance for the recovery.
We need a New Global Deal to rebalance power and financial resources, and enable developing countries to invest in the Sustainable Development Goals.
The international debt architecture requires urgent reform.
We need an operational debt relief and restructuring framework that takes account of vulnerability.
We must also consider changes to credit ratings and the issuance of Special Drawing Rights.
And we need a serious effort to increase the number of countries that can produce Covid-19 vaccines, therapies and tests, by sharing licenses and providing technical and financial support.
Excellencies,
Our complex and interconnected world requires a multilateralism that is more effective, more networked, and more inclusive.
We need to combine the strengths of existing institutions to deliver together on humanity’s most pressing challenges.
I have put forward a number of ideas in my report “Our Common Agenda”.
One example:
I have proposed Biennial Summits to bring together the G20, the Economic and Social Council of the UN, the international financial institutions, and my office as Secretary-General, to work towards a more sustainable, inclusive and resilient global economy.
We are working closely with Member States to bring this, and many other recommendations from Our Common Agenda, to fruition.
I thank G20 members for your support and contributions.
Strengthening multilateralism is the only sustainable path to a peaceful, stable, prosperous world for all.
The United Nations was founded on these aspirations.
And the G20, representing 80 percent of global economic power, can make them a reality.
Thank you.
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Story
21 September 2022
WASH Access for All: Inclusive Transformation of WASH in Puskesmas in Lampung Province
“It was very difficult for us. Most Puskesmas in Lampung are not equipped with ramps, so persons in wheelchairs must be carried. It was also very hard to access toilets in Puskesmas, with their narrow doors and no railings for support,” said Ibu Siti, resident of Bandar Lampung. “If sick, we would usually choose to stay at home instead of getting health care in a Puskesmas.”
Siti Chodijah, who goes by the nickname Susi and works as a seamstress, has a slightly deformed left foot due to childhood polio. She is one of approximately 405,000 people with disabilities in Lampung. They constitute about 4.58% of Lampung’s population of 8.85 million.
To advance the lives of fellow women with disabilities, she joined the Indonesian Women with Disabilities Association (HWDI) in 2014. It was through HWDI and its partner, Way Seputih Conservation Foundation (YKWS), that she joined the collective effort in 2021 to transform Puskesmas into inclusive facilities with water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) access for all, including for people with disabilities.
“I became a member of the WASH task force in Puskesmas Pasar Ambon. Along with other members, I gave feedback on how the WASH facilities should serve everyone. Adding ramps, widening doors and providing handrails in toilets means providing access for us. Such change will also be useful for the elderly and pregnant women,” said Susi.
From trainings to real change
In 2020, Annisa Pramesti Putri, WASH Knowledge Management Officer of SNV Indonesia, participated in one of the Water and Sanitation for Health Facility Improvement Tool (WASH FIT) trainings conducted by WHO Indonesia. WASH FIT is a risk-based management tool for health care facilities, covering key aspects of water, sanitation, hand hygiene, environmental cleaning, health care waste management and selected aspects of energy, building and facility management.
Ministry of Health (MoH) officials, university academics, as well as representatives of the Province Health Office, United Nations agencies and non-governmental organizations participated in the training sessions.
“SNV did a research and pilot for WASH improvement in 2020 and at the same time there was the WASH FIT Training of Trainers. After the four-days training, we adapted the tools and implemented the knowledge in three cities: Bandar Lampung, Metro and Tasikmalaya,” Annisa said.
According to her, SNV Indonesia transferred their knowledge to their local partners and assisted the Puskesmas to improve WASH services. In cities of Bandar Lampung and Metro, SNV Indonesia partnered with YKWS. Nine Puskesmas – five in Bandar Lampung and four in Metro – were supported to transform their WASH quality to be more inclusive and gender responsive.
WHO continued their support and technical assistance, providing inputs in SNV Indonesia and YKWS training sessions for Lampung participants.
With the support from City Governments, the nine Puskesmas started to improve their facilities to be more inclusive and gender responsive. Puskesmas Margorejo in Metro City added ramps in the entrance and toilets. Toilet doors were widened from 80 to 100 cm to allow wheelchairs to enter and exit more easily. Toilets were equipped with extra curtains to enhance users’ privacy.
Meanwhile, the task force in Puskesmas Kedaton decided to provide menstrual hygiene management in the female toilet. They thought it important to meet the demand for menstrual hygiene products and ensure menstrual health and bleeding management, particularly among adolescents and postpartum women.
The Puskesmas also changed their registration process and waiting room to prioritize people with disabilities, along with pregnant women and elderly patients.
“We have plenty of patients with disabilities, elderly and pregnant women. They have the same rights to healthcare services, and we prioritize the more vulnerable population groups to be served in Puskesmas,” said Rosnilam, Head of the Puskesmas Margorejo.
Lessons from the process
From the two-year process of collective efforts, stakeholders in Lampung gained plenty of lessons learned. Annisa said her organization identified that involvement of various stakeholders in WASH task forces enabled a mutual feedback mechanism. The task forces’ members were representatives of people with disabilities, women, youth, and religious organizations who live in the surrounding area of each Puskesmas.
This means improvements in Puskesmas are based on actual needs of the beneficiaries. The Puskesmas can gather direct feedback from its users and in parallel feel the responsibility to fulfil their duty to the people.
“Also important is support from the city governments and mayors. Once they have the same vision, everyone from the top to the bottom will act together,” she said.
YKWS’ participatory approach triggers a deep sense of belonging to Puskesmas management as YKWS facilitators involved them at every step of the programme.
“For example, in discussing inclusive WASH indicators, we did not tell them what to do. We asked them to collectively give feedback and decide indicators to be implemented in their Puskesmas,” said Yulian Gressando, Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning Officer of YKWS.
This makes Puskesmas management enthusiastic to improve their services even more. In July 2022, representatives of the nine Puskesmas gathered in two workshops to establish standard operating procedures in improving WASH services. They actively participated and made the discussions alive with a common spirit to make Puskesmas better and more inclusive for everyone.
Moving forward
Seeing the improvement of the participating Puskesmas, the Metro City Government has committed to replicate WASH FIT in seven other primary health care centres. Metro has decided to increase the Puskesmas’ budget in 2023 to ensure they have sufficient resources to improve their WASH.
“No one should be left behind in the development process. Everyone should have access to safe water and proper sanitation and hygiene,” said Dr H. Wahdi, Mayor of Metro City. “We have seen impressive improvements in our Puskesmas and surrounding communities have been very supportive. We need to work continuously, involving as many stakeholders as possible, to provide better a future for the generations to come.”
Meanwhile, Bandar Lampung City Government has also stated their commitment to replicate WASH FIT in other Puskesmas. In this city, the Puskesmas have been asked to revise their Budget and Business Plan for 2023 to include a budget for WASH improvements.
Replication plans do not only come from cities of Bandar Lampung and Metro, but also from neighbouring South Lampung District.
With their gained knowledge, staff of the nine pilot Puskesmas will act as agents of change, spreading their knowledge as tutors for other Puskesmas in the region and beyond.
***
WASH FIT is supported by the Australian Government and implemented by WHO.
This article is originally published in the WHO Indonesia's website
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Story
15 September 2022
Youth contest: Call for essays/photo essays on the impact of the United Nations in Indonesia
Participate in the UN in Indonesia’s essay/photo essay contest and win the chance to shadow UN staff at our Jakarta HQ and spend two days getting to know the work of the UN, with all expenses paid. Read on for more details.
Interested contributors have until 15 October 2022 to submit an essay of up to 2500 words plus 1-3 photos OR a photo essay of up to 20 pictures with captions on the way the United Nations has impacted their life or that of their community. Essays can be submitted in English or in Bahasa Indonesia, in MS Word, Open Office document or pdf file. You should also attach a digital photo of yourself.
Three winners will be selected by a panel of judges and the results announced on UN Indonesia’s website and social media channels on 24 October, UN Day. The winners will get a tour of the United Nations offices in Jakarta over two days and will be able to get to know the work of several UN agencies behind the scenes. All travel expenses from within Indonesia and accommodation expenses will be covered by the UN.
The UN reserves the right to publish contest submissions on its website, social media channels and via third party platforms.
For more information, contact unic-jakarta@un.org
Send your submission to unic-jakarta@un.org with “UN Day essay contest” in the subject line.
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Story
05 September 2022
A “Routine” Activity That Goes a Long Way
The list is endless and includes infrastructure projects such as road improvements and water channels, renovation and rehabilitations of municipal buildings and schools, energy solutions such as solar installations, various training, and development courses from language to computer to taekwondo, veterinary services, and much more.
Amidst all these support and humanitarian projects, free medical services to the population of the south stands out as arguably the most consistent kind of assistance since the establishment of UNIFIL under Security Council Resolution 1701 in 2006.
Almost all UNIFIL contingents have provided and continue to provide such free medical care and the Indonesian contingent (INDOBATT) is one of them.
Just this last Tuesday, 30 August 2022, another medical camp was organized in the village of Bani Hayyan, south Lebanon. INDOBATT calls it a “routine” activity, but to the people of Bani Hayyan it is anything but routine. On this day 21 patients, ranging from children to the elderly, lined up to be seen by the Indonesian medical team, which consists of 1 doctor, 4 nurses and 1 ambulance driver.
The patients were diagnosed with dyspepsia, hypertension, osteoarthritis among other lesser ailments. A translator facilitated communication between the medical team and the patients. Medicine was prescribed and handed out to the patients, for free.
Apart from saving the villagers the cost of a doctor’s fee, receiving free medicine is an even greater aid, given the fact that Lebanon has essentially run out of most kind of medicaments due to the financial crisis.
1st Lieutenant Dr. Ario, of INDOBATT’s medical team, is proud to be helping the local population. "It is an obligation for a doctor to help others but being a doctor who is part of UNIFIL's peacekeeping mission is an honor for me", said Ario.
During the last 6 months the current INDOBATT medical team has seen and treated more than 300 patients in their area of operations in south Lebanon. While INDOBATT’s and most other contingent’s main task consists of patrolling the south and maintaining peace and stability, the small medical team continues to help where they can, as will the teams that will follow in their footsteps.
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Story
18 August 2022
Binding together UNOCHA’s humanitarian goals and youth power
In college, Shuyi continued volunteering but due to the nature of her bachelor's major in food engineering, she had to put herself in the lab for most of the day. Hence she didn't have a deep understanding of social development in the limited time.
Out of strong passion and craving for knowledge in social development and policy, Shuyi linked her volunteering interest to her professional research by turning to study social science in her master's study. During her graduate studies, Shuyi personally participated in poverty alleviation projects, research, and conferences, and gained opportunities to contact and cooperate with government departments and international organizations, like World Bank, UNDP, and UNICEF. Further contacts made her want to work with these international organizations to closely observe the decision-making and policy implementation in social development areas.
In 2021, China Youth Volunteer Association (CYVA) and United Nations Volunteers (UNV) jointly organized the ‘China Youth Volunteer Overseas Service Program - Serving UN Agencies' project, and sent 24 Chinese youth volunteers to 14 UN agencies around the world for 6 months. As one of the volunteers, Shuyi was deployed to serve as International UN University Volunteer, Associate Humanitarian Affairs Officer with UNOCHA Indonesia in September 2021. Her 6-months' volunteering assignment was fully funded by China Young Volunteers Association. Unfortunately, due to the pandemic, the scheduled on-site assignment was changed to telecommuting.
During her six months at UNOCHA Indonesian office, Shuyi participated in various humanitarian coordination work, regular Humanitarian Country Team, and inter-cluster coordination group meetings, and took the lead on OCHA’s regional work on climate change. Working with colleagues from different countries around the world, she gained a deeper understanding of UNOCHA's work, volunteering services, cross-cultural communication, and social development. She was impressed by the friendliness and kindness of her teammates. To help her achieve her ambitions in social development, her supervisor and colleagues not only shared their rich work experience with her but also discussed her learning abilities, future work plan, and career development.
Shuyi has gradually integrated herself into the open and inclusive environment of UNOCHA, and into the team which showcases professionalism, equality, mutual help, friendship and upward mobility.
“Volunteering in international organizations is an opportunity to fully understand the world and a rare opportunity for growth. Endless distant places, countless people, all related to me," feels Shuyi.
Her supervisor, Victoria Saiz-Omenaca, OCHA - Head of Office, was all praise for her. In her words, “I am very pleased with Shuyi’s contribution to humanitarian work in Indonesia. She has quickly adapted to the fast-paced work environment and immersed herself in office assignments, almost immediately becoming a key member of our team. All of this happened during the difficult time of the pandemic, when we often had to work remotely. Shuyi made important contributions in the areas of humanitarian coordination, disaster preparedness and the humanitarian impact of the climate crisis. OCHA Indonesia is proud to share its values and principles with a young and energetic volunteer like Shuyi. I trust that she has gained important experience and skills that would be useful for her professional career. We have certainly benefited from her perspective, team spirit, knowledge, and dedication.”
Through the volunteering service, Shuyi realized that the current world order needs the power and contribution of the youth. Young students can actively participate in global governance and help more people in need, which is what Shuyi thinks is the most meaningful thing to do right now.
***
This article was prepared with the kind support of Online Volunteer, Kathakali Das Bhaumik.
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Story
11 August 2022
How My Tourism Business Survived COVID-19
My name is Dekha Dewandana, I’m 46 years old. I’m the owner of Esa di Kubu homestay in Sudaji Village, Buleleng, Bali, Indonesia. Despite the difficulties during the pandemic, I didn't give up. I followed what I was taught during the ILO training: to be the owner and host of our own village.
My career started in the tourism sector. I graduated from Bali’s tourism vocational school in 1997. Afterwards, I worked as a housekeeper on a local cruise ship for four years, before I found a job at a hotel in the capital city of Bali.
When my parents passed away, I followed their wish for me to take care of our family home in Sudaji Village.
In 2014 I started to realise my dream to develop homestays for tourists in my village. The idea is to not build new houses, but to preserve old houses for tourism. I was fully confident that I could succeed, based on my tourism and hotel background. I observed the operations of homestays and learnt how to transform the house into a homestay.
It was indeed a success. My homestay was chosen by the Bali Tourism Office to participate in community-based tourism at the national level, representing my village, and was awarded second prize.
Afterwards, the Bali Tourism Office recommended that I take part in the International Labour Organization's (ILO) Sustaining Competitive and Responsible Enterprises (SCORE) Hospitality Coaching (HoCo) organized by BEDO-Sampoerna.
I participated in the training programme from 2018 to 2019. We were taught and were helped to standardize our facilities and equipment according to The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) standards. We learnt about professional bedding, toiletries, food presentation, guest services and so forth. Every month, the BEDO trainer would coach and evaluate our progress.
The training also taught us the importance of digitalization and digital marketing. Since then, I began promoting my homestay online and as a result the sales and number of visitors increased.
Then COVID-19 hit at the end of 2019. We started receiving cancellations from our foreign guests from January to February, and when the Indonesian government declared the COVID-19 pandemic in the country in March, we had only five guests left, who got trapped in Bali. We were all panicked and worried.
For the first four months, I used my savings to buy daily needs, particularly food. I bought as much rice and instant noodles that I could buy, as stores and markets were closed down. I could only survive for three to four months before using up all my savings. To get some income, despite the lock-down, I sneaked out and found my way to go to the nearby forest to get additional plants for our consumption and firewood that I could sell.
The worst period was the first seven months of 2021. We could only depend on the vegetable farms where we planted vegetables to survive. From January to July, I ran out of everything. My fellow villagers and myself barely ate.
I started to lose hope.
However, I knew that it was not only us who were suffering. Other family members and friends also lost their jobs and some even had nothing to eat.
I was contacted by my previous guests overseas, asking about my condition and offering some help, which I felt grateful for. This assistance helped my family survive until the end of 2020.
At the beginning of the pandemic, we received health protocol training from the ILO’s SCORE Hospitality Coaching. We were taught how to protect ourselves by maintaining physical distance, using masks, washing our hands and so forth.
Then conditions got better when the restrictions were lifted and we received assistance from the government. I never forgot about my dreamed homestay. I painted the house and used the supplies to fix parts of the house.
Starting in January 2022, the homestays in my village have received domestic and international tourists. My homestay has received a group of tourists from Denmark and Switzerland.
I am also the co-founder of Sudaji Homestay, a group for homestay owners who have been trained and facilitated by BEDO.
The aim of the group is to help each other so that we can maintain standards for our homestays. Not all the homestay owners can speak English or have an understanding about marketing and digital marketing. Through this group, we help those managing other homestays, assisting in marketing and teaching them about services.
I also help by sharing my skills and knowledge so that we can continue to maintain our reputation as a winning tourism village and so that my fellow villagers do not have to find jobs elsewhere. They can stay in the village and be the owner and host of our own village.
This is the concept that was taught during our ILO SCORE HoCo training: to be the owner and host of our own village.
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This story was originally published by ILO
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Press Release
29 September 2022
Turning the Tide for Ocean Sustainability
Jakarta, 29 September 2022 – The United Nations and the Government of Indonesia will closely cooperate and complement each other in desgining and implementing projects to protect and sustainably develop the oceans. Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut B. Pandjaitan and UN Resident Coordinator Valerie Julliand discussed today concrete implementation steps under the National Blue Agenda Actions Partnership, to be launched on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Bali in November.
Indonesia, the center of the world’s marine biodiversity, is turning the tide on the sustainable use of the oceans with the support of the UN and other development partners, Coordinating Minister Luhut said.
“Indonesia is committed to support the completion of the National Blue Agenda Actions Partnership,” he said, adding that the Partnership will help Indonesia achieve its national medium-term plan targets. Indonesia has committed to a healthy and sustainable ocean. I believe we can recover together and recover stronger on a sustainable blue road.
The Partnership will focus on the marine and maritime sectors, ensuring a healthy environment and contributing to prosperity under four pillars: blue health, blue food, blue innovation and blue finance.
Ms Julliand, said: “Protecting oceans, and their resilience is important not just for food security and economic growth, but also in the fight against climate change. This is a good example of why development objectives need to be tackled in a holistic manner across sectors. And we are doing exactly that in Indonesia.”
Healthy and resilient marine and coastal ecosystems are fundamental to sustainable development. They are a source of food, energy and minerals, allow transport of goods across the globe and regulate the climate. However, coastal and marine ecosystems in Indonesia have begun to show signs of degradation from infrastructure development, extractive industries and pollution, threatening the livelihoods of ocean-dependent communities.
At a workshop earlier this week, organized by the UN in collaboration with the Coordinating Ministry for Maritime Affairs and Investment (CMMAI / Kemenko Marves) and other government partners, speakers mapped out the areas of the Partnership. They reviewed a wide range of ongoing and planned initiatives, from paying fishers to collect plastic debris in the ocean to diversifying job opportunities for coastal communities in sectors such as tourism, and more. Speakers also discussed ways to finetune blue finance to balance food production and the conservation of the environment.
The Partnership is based on complementarities between international and national endeavours, ensuring higher overall impact. It involves several UN agencies in Indonesia (FAO, ILO, UNDP, UNEP, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNOPS and UNWOMEN), working closely with relevant ministries and government agencies as well as the international development community in support of Indonesia’s role as a global leader on a sustainable Blue Agenda.
As the Chair of the G20 Presidency, Indonesia is the initiator Ocean 20 and promotes – in line with the UN Sustainable Development Goals – three main issues on ‘life on land, and below water’: supporting a stronger sustainable recovery, promoting effective land and marine ecosystem management and resource mobilisation to support climate change mitigation and adaption.
Ms Julliand added: “This Blue Partnership, including a Plan of Action, comes at an auspicious time, as the world looks at Indonesia during this year of the presidency of the G20. As the largest archipelagic nation in the world, Indonesia can be an example to other countries in sustainable, ocean-based development.”
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About the UN in Indonesia:
The United Nations (UN) is an international organisation founded in 1945. It is currently made up of 193 Member States. The mission and work of the United Nations are guided by the purposes and principles contained in its founding Charter. In Indonesia, the UN is committed to supporting the Government of Indonesia in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030. The UN Country Team is led by the UN Resident Coordinator (RC), the representative of the UN Secretary-General at the country level. RCs lead UN Country Teams in consultations with the Government to define and agree on the UN strategic response to the Government’s development priorities in implementing the 2030 Agenda.
About the National Blue Agenda Partnership:
There are four main pillars of the Partnership:
Blue Health: (blue conservation and biodiversity, restoration, ecosystem management, coastal spatial planning)
Blue Food (production, consumption, marine and aquaculture, market penetration and access on supply chain, food security system, small-scale producers, sustainability and product competitiveness certification, innovation and investment angle)
Blue Innovation (science, technology, applications, human development, capacity building, employment, livelihood, e-applications)
Blue Finance: (creative finance, payment for ecosystem services, blue economy, blue bond, blue Sukuk, incubation/ start-up).
Contacts:
-Miklos Gaspar, Director of the UN Information Centre in Jakarta (UNIC): miklos.gaspar AT un.org
-Andreas A. Hutahaean, Coordinating Ministry of Maritime and Investment Affairs (Kemenko Marvest): andreashut@maritim.go.id
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Press Release
22 September 2022
For the People, Planet, Prosperity, Peace and Partnership: United Nations Boost its Cooperation with Indonesia
Jakarta, 22 September 2022 – The United Nations (UN) team in Indonesia stands in solidarity with the people and the Government of Indonesia in responding to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2021. The UN worked with the Government to bring 87 million vaccination doses to the country through the international COVAX mechanism, trained more than 180,000 Indonesian health workers, and formed a dedicated taskforce to coordinate responses to oxygen scarcity issues at the height of the pandemic.
These are just three of thousands of UN and Indonesian Government results and interventions detailed in the UN in Indonesia Country Results Report 2021 which is now available in a more optimized format for online use (https://arr.un.or.id/).
This report – initially launched in June 2022 – shows that throughout 2021, despite the COVID-19 pandemic, Indonesia and the United Nations have remained true to the Sustainable Development Goals—a roadmap to a better, fairer, more sustainable future for all.
The UN Resident Coordinator in Indonesia, Valerie Julliand, said the results report is a testament to the way the UN and the Government came together to navigate those challenges. “Now, we must redouble our efforts if we are to remain true to our promise to leave no one behind and achieve the SDGs by 2030,” Julliand said. “This report serves as a record of our extraordinary achievements in 2021. I trust that it will also galvanize us for the tough road ahead.”
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Contact: Miklos Gaspar – Director, UN Information Center (miklos.gaspar AT un.org)
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Press Release
12 September 2022
Secretary-General Appoints Miklos Gaspar of Hungary as Director of United Nations Information Centre in Jakarta
A field office of the United Nations Department of Global Communications, the United Nations Information Centre in Jakarta provides services to Indonesia.
Mr. Gaspar has more than 25 years of experience in public information, communications and international relations, acquired at the United Nations and externally. Since 2014, he has worked as Chief of Digital Media and Public Information Materials of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), where he formulated, implemented and managed IAEA’s online communications strategy, internal communications, as well as impact reporting and donor communication.
Previously, Mr. Gaspar was the Chief of Communications and Events at the International Trade Centre, where he managed all communications, advocacy and outreach activities, from strategic conceptualization to implementation.
Outside the United Nations system, Mr. Gaspar held several senior-level positions in the private sector, including as Editor-in-Chief of the Budapest Business Journal and Chief Operating Officer and Vice-President of Pressflex, LLC.
Mr. Gaspar holds a doctoral degree in Linguistics from the Eötvös Loránd University in Budapest. He is fluent in English, French and Hungarian, and has working knowledge of German.
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About the UN Information Centre: United Nations Information Centres (UNICs) are the principal sources of information about the United Nations system in the countries where they are located. UNICs are responsible for promoting greater public understanding of and support for the aims and activities of the United Nations by disseminating information on the work of the Organization to people everywhere, especially in developing countries.
Contact: Andri Suryo (andri.suryo@un.org), National Information Officer, UNIC Jakarta
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Press Release
08 September 2022
Blue Agenda Development Fast Tracked through Indonesia-United Nations Partnership
A sustainable ocean economy is vital for Indonesia, as well as for other coastal nations. It contributes to higher revenues from ocean-based activities, which channel back into ocean conservation, encourage sustainable livelihoods and blue foods for coastal communities, and preserve ocean biodiversity with a recovering ocean and coastal ecosystem.
Jodi Mahardi, Deputy Coordinating Minister for Maritime Resources at the Coordinating Ministry of Maritime and Investment Affairs (Kemenko Marvest), said: “We and the UN are working together to build a strategic partnership on encouraging the acceleration of development in the field of maritime resources sustainably in accordance with the government's main objectives. We appreciate assistance to the Government of Indonesia in accelerating the achievement of government development targets, both short and medium terms in the maritime sector.”
The UN Resident Coordinator for Indonesia, Valerie Julliand, said: “Healthy oceans are critical to humanity’s survival. The UN system in Indonesia is pleased to join forces with the government and development partners to build a sustainable ocean economy”. She emphasised the “three Cs” – coordination, collaboration and commitment – to ensure that the work of all players is complementary, effective and efficient and contributing significantly to the government's Mid-term National Development Plan’s targets related to marine resources. It can also support unleashing the country’s blue economy potential in achieving the SDGs.
Under the National Blue Agenda Actions Partnership, Kemenko Marvest and the UN team in Indonesia are working closely with other relevant ministries and government agencies as well as the diplomatic community in support of Indonesia’s role as a global leader on the Blue Agenda. The blue agenda seeks to support sustainable growth in the marine and maritime sectors. The coordinated strategic support for Indonesia by the UN will focus on all four pillars: blue health, blue food, blue innovation and blue finances.
Deputy Mahardi urged relevant stakeholders to join the Partnership, which is scheduled to be launched on 14 November at Ocean 20 side event to the G20 summit in Bali.
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About the National Blue Agenda Actions Partnership:
There are four main pillars of the Partnership:
Blue Health: (blue conservation and biodiversity, restoration, ecosystem management, coastal spatial planning,)
Blue Food (production, consumption, marine and aquaculture, market penetration and access on supply chain, food security system, small-scale producers, sustainability and product competitiveness certification, innovation and investment angle)
Blue Innovation (science & technology applications, human development, capacity building, employment, livelihood, e-applications)
Blue Finance: (creative finance, payment for ecosystem services, blue economy, blue bond, blue Sukuk, incubation/ start-up).
About the UN in Indonesia:
The United Nations (UN) is an international organisation founded in 1945. It is currently made up of 193 Member States. The mission and work of the United Nations are guided by the purposes and principles contained in its founding Charter. In Indonesia, the UN is committed to supporting the Government of Indonesia in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030. The UN Country Team is led by the UN Resident Coordinator (RC), the representative of the UN Secretary General at the country level. RCs lead UN Country Teams in consultations with the Government to define and agree on the UN strategic response to the Government’s development priorities in implementing the 2030 Agenda.
About the Coordinating Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Investment Coordinating Ministry for Maritime and Investment Affairs (Kemenko Marvest)
Is the Indonesian government ministry in charge of coordinating synchronizing as well as controlling policies in maritime affairs and investment led by Mr. Luhut B. Pandjaitan. As stipulated in the Presidential Regulation No. 10/2015, Kemenko Marvest has the following functions:
Coordinates and synchronizes the formulation, establishment and implementation of ministries policies in maritime affairs.
Controls ministries' policies implementation in maritime affairs.
Coordinates the implementation of the task, development, and provides administrative support to all elements of the organization within the Kemenko Marvest.
Coordinates and synchronizes maritime state resilience development and maritime resources management.
Contacts:
Miklos Gaspar, Director of the UN Information Centre in Jakarta (UNIC): unic-jakarta@un.org
Andreas A. Hutahaean, Coordinating Ministry of Maritime and Investment Affairs: andreashut@maritim.go.id
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Press Release
25 August 2022
United Nations Fast-tracks Indonesia’s Blue Economy Development Through the “Blue Finance Accelerator” Program
Jakarta, 23 August 2022 — The United Nations team in Indonesia, through a joint UN program – Accelerating Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Investment in Indonesia (ASSIST) – led by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), kicked off the implementation of the Blue Finance Accelerator program today, together with the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Indonesian Coordinating Ministry of Maritime and Investment Affairs.
Launched in December 2021, with support from the UN’s global SDG Joint Fund, ASSIST endeavors to fast-track Indonesia’s blue economy development through the “Blue Finance Accelerator” program. This program aims to increase the national and local government capacity and awareness of the blue economy and improve access to finance for select blue sector start-ups and Small, Medium Enterprises (SMEs) through capacity-building support and scale-up projects focused on the Blue Economy through the venture accelerator program.
The event also included consultations with relevant line ministries and government agencies to promote institutional awareness of the country’s blue economy agenda.
“The Blue Finance Accelerator is unique in that it targets the growth of impactful ventures in line with the Sustainable Development Goals. Through the Venture Accelerator program in this initiative, UNDP will help integrate impact into business acceleration by providing our Impact Measurement and Management advisory. By practicing impact, businesses are expected to become more sustainable as they generate positive outcomes for their surrounding people and the planet”, said Mr. Nicholas Booth, Officer-in-Charge UNDP Indonesia.
“Before the COVID-19 pandemic, the ocean economy was expected to double from 2010 to 2030, to reach USD 3 trillion and employ 40 million people. We need to be aware of the opportunities that healthy oceans can provide”, said Mr. Basilio Araujo, Deputy Minister for Maritime Sovereignty and Energy Coordination, Coordinating Ministry of Maritime & Investment Affairs said, in his keynote speech. “A healthy ocean and blue economy have a pivotal role in turning the global economic system around to rebuild human prosperity and well-being through the ocean, to restore biodiversity, and to restore ocean health,” he added.
Mr. Jiro Tominaga, Indonesia Country Director, ADB said ``We want to achieve with this Accelerator and the training sessions to be deployed throughout the program is primarily to promote Sustainable Blue Projects that would help to meet the targets set in the updated Government of Indonesia’s National Determined Contribution which fully recognizes oceans as a newly contributing element within its enhanced adaptation ambition to climate change impacts.‘’
Under the Blue Finance Accelerator program, UNDP will develop and implement the venture accelerator program to scale up participating startups and SMEs through capacity-building support, increased access to finance, and involvement in blue sector projects. Similarly, ADB will deliver and facilitate government training workshops to build knowledge and enhance the capacities of both central and local government and State-owned Enterprises.
The Blue Finance Accelerator program aims to enhance the Government of Indonesia’s commitments and capacities for the Blue Economy and to leverage innovative financing instruments toward infrastructure programs supporting ocean preservation, community resilience, and the overall growth of the Blue Economy.
It is hoped that the participating startups and SMEs can build their capacity in business scalability and impact as well as receive access to financing to support the local and central government in generating a pipeline of blue and bankable projects to contribute to the development of sustainable oceans and resilient coastal communities in Indonesia. Central in the implementation of the Accelerator Program is the incorporation of women’s empowerment, which is key to transforming the local value chain of the blue economy and their role in uplifting livelihoods in coastal communities.
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About Blue Finance Accelerator Program
To accelerate the Government of Indonesia’s objectives in the blue sector and the SDGs targets in Indonesia, UNDP Indonesia and ADB have partnered to launch and deliver a Blue Finance Accelerator. The Accelerator aims to) strengthen the Government’s capacity and knowledge in implementing blue-related projects; improve access to finance for selected Indonesian blue sector start-ups/SMEs through capacity-building support, and enable scale-up towards the Blue Economy in relevant to the public-private partnership approach through joint training sessions, matchmaking activities, knowledge-sharing, and policy dialogues.
About the UN SDG Joint Fund
The Joint SDG Fund supports countries in accelerating their progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and delivering on the commitment of the 2030 Agenda to leave no one behind. Providing a new generation of Resident Coordinators (RCs) and United Nations Country Teams (UNCTs) with a critical instrument to incentivize the adoption of new solutions for longer-term sustainability. UN Joint SDG Fund is operated with contributions from the following donor countries: Denmark, the European Union, Germany, Ireland, Luxembourg, Monaco, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland.
MEDIA CONTACTS
UNDP Indonesia Communications Specialist, Tomi Soetjipto, suryo.tomi@undp.org
Head of the Innovative Financing Lab at UNDP Indonesia, Muhammad Didi Hardiana, muhammad.hardiana@undp.org Asian Development Bank Project Origination & Structuring Specialist, Alexis Lebel, alebel.contractor@adb.org
Head of the Innovative Financing Lab at UNDP Indonesia, Muhammad Didi Hardiana, muhammad.hardiana@undp.org Asian Development Bank Project Origination & Structuring Specialist, Alexis Lebel, alebel.contractor@adb.org
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Latest Resources
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Resources
25 August 2022
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