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  • Is it Possible to Achieve the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030?

    Is it Possible to Achieve the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030?

    The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are an urgent call to action to end poverty while improving health and education, reducing inequality and tackle climate change. Indonesia has climbed from 102 last year to 101 out of 166 countries in the SDG Index 2020, which measures performance against the 17 SDGs, but much work remains to be done.

    In the report ‘The Sustainable Development Goals and Covid-19’, 10 out of 17 SDGs in Indonesia have improved where as there is stagnation for goals 5 (Gender Equality), 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), 14 (Life Below Water), 15 (Life on Land), and 17 (Partnerships for the Goals).

    Despite the positive development in certain areas, Indonesia still has its challenges when it comes to goals 2 (Zero Hunger), 3 (Good Health and Well-Being), 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation), 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure), 10 (Reduced Inequalities), 15 (Life on Land), and 17 (Partnership for the Goals).

    Covid-19 and the Decade of Action to deliver the SDGs

    In September 2019, world leaders called for a Decade of Action, with a pledge to mobilize financing, strengthen institutions, and enhance national implementation in achieving the Goals by the target date of 2030. Unfortunately early this year we were hit by the Covid-19 pandemic, a health crisis that has quickly become a human and socio-economic crisis, impacting our progress in achieving the 17 SDGs.

    The United Nations University World Institute for Development Economics Research (UNU WIDER) concluded that 400 million people have fallen into poverty because of Covid-19. In Indonesia, it was reported that there are 1.63 million new poor due to this pandemic.

    Relating to goal 8 Decent Work and Economic Growth, the International Labour Organisation predicted that there are 195 million people who have lost their jobs. Meanwhile, Indonesian Ministry of Labour has said that 3.05 million people lost their jobs. On top of that, there is a rise in masks and personal protective equipment waste, affecting goal 14 Life Below Water and 15 Life on Land.

    Some of the examples above raise concerns that it might push back the achievement of SDGs in Indonesia. The 10 years deadline coupled with the new challenges caused by pandemic make the situation seems impossible. However some have argued that we should view this as a wake-up call and an opportunity to re-evaluate and adjust our strategy in achieving the SDGs.

    What’s Next In Our Journey Towards Achieving the SDGs?

    The SDGs are a strong focus at the national level, but often have not fully penetrated at the regional level. The process of localizing SDGs achievements at the regional levels is actually one of the keys to Indonesia’s progress in moving forward.

    As a part of its effort in implementing the SDGs, Indonesia is preparing to launch SDG Academy Indonesia at the end of 2020. A collaboration between UNDP Indonesia, Tanoto Foundation, an independent family philanthropy organisation founded by Sukanto Tanoto and Tinah Bingei Tanoto in 1981, and the Ministry of National Development Planning of the Republic of Indonesia, this innovative programme is designed to assist Indonesian development actors in using the SDG framework, including contextualizing and localizing SDGs, and developing leadership in these areas.

    Ko Zin Thet

  • How Youth Can Play a Part in Achieving the SDGs in Indonesia

    How Youth Can Play a Part in Achieving the SDGs in Indonesia

    Youth play a critical role in a nation’s development, as proven through history when the youth from all regions in the Indonesian archipelago were united through the declaration of the Youth Pledge in October 1928, prompting them to help fight against Dutch colonial rule and achieve Indonesian independence.

    Today, the youth remain a key strength and cornerstone of Indonesia’s development. This demographic will eventually dominate the population, and is estimated to reach its peak around 2030-2040 when the number of productive nationals (ages 15 to 64) will outnumber that of the non-working population (ages below 15 and over 64). 64% out of the total projected population of 297 million by this time will be working or productive citizens.

    Indonesia law defines youth as any citizen aged 16 to 30. Based on the 2019 National Socio-Economic survey, the estimated number of youth is currently 64.19 million – or a quarter of Indonesia’s total population.

    Having such a large number of young citizens means huge potential for the nation’s development, particularly if all of them are equipped with various skills which can aid them in contributing significantly to the country.

    Youth in Indonesia and the SDGs

    Young people are undoubtedly a focus of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) – not just as beneficiaries in the future, but as actors of development now.

    In Indonesia, this is particularly relevant when it comes to certain SDGs. The SMERU Institute, in making the focus on youth as a priority, refers to at least 13 SDGs in its  SDGs and Youth in Indonesia report.

    These include Goal 1 of No Poverty – one in 10 adolescents in Indonesia live below the poverty line, according to 2015 data. Meanwhile, in terms of Goal 4 of Quality Education, Indonesia still ranks low at the moment when it comes to international assessments such as PISA (Program for International Student Assessment) and TIMSS (Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study).

    However, the current generation has high potential to change things, and help Indonesia achieve many of the SDGs.

    Today’s youth are highly curious by nature and willing to learn, which can help towards achieving Goal 4. Youth today are also optimistic about diversity – according the IDN Research Institute’s 2019 Indonesia Millennial Report, 81.5 per cent of Indonesian youth support the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia, while 81.4 per cent support the ‘Pancasila’ state ideology. Such mindsets are aligned with the achievement of Goal 10 of Reduced Inequalities and Goal 16 of Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions.

    Indonesian youth, in line with their peers around the world, are also highly technology-savvy and supportive towards the development of tech which can positively impact on economic growth, which is in line with Goal 8 of Decent Work and Economic Growth.

    If equipped with the right skills and abilities, the youth demographic can be the key to Indonesia’s success in achieving the SDGs. Access to quality education and character building to become future leaders is a form of support required by local youth.

    Tanoto Foundation, an independent family philanthropy organisation founded by Sukanto Tanoto and Tinah Bingei Tanoto in 1981, offers future leadership development and scholarship programs to support young people in Indonesia and to help build a community of future leaders with leadership, policy-making and management skills who are able to eventually make positive impacts in where they live or work.

    Tanoto Foundation has also collaborated with UNDP and Indonesia’s Ministry of National Development Planning (BAPPENAS) to establish SDG Academy Indonesia – the first initiative in the country which aims to raise the capabilities and capacities of young leaders and actors of development in Indonesia.

    Ko Zin Thet

  • Tanoto Foundation Joins Forces with World Bank, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and Indonesian Government to Fight Stunting

    Tanoto Foundation Joins Forces with World Bank, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and Indonesian Government to Fight Stunting

    Since September 2019, the Tanoto Foundation, an independent family philanthropy organisation founded by Sukanto Tanoto and Tinah Bingei Tanoto in 1981, has worked closely with the World Bank, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the Indonesian government to reduce the high prevalence of stunting in the country.

    The Tanoto Foundation subsequently became a founding member of the World Bank’s Multi Donor Trust Fund (MDTF) for Indonesia Human Capital Acceleration (IHCA). Operating from 2020 to 2024, the MDTF will support and accelerate whole-of-government stunting reduction efforts. Both the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the Tanoto Foundation have committed a total USD 4 million donation to the MDTF.

    Tanoto Foundation Supports Human Capital Development

    The Tanoto Foundation has already set in motion a series of human capital development initiatives under its flagship SIGAP and PINTAR programs. These programs respectively seek to develop and enhance capacities in early childhood education and development (ECED) and basic education. Because the Foundation believes in harnessing the transformative power of education to accelerate the creation of opportunities to realize one’s potential, both SIGAP and PINTAR seek to strengthen and safeguard the key nodes in the educational lifecycle across the nation.

    The Foundation’s support of the MDTF IHCA is an extension of existing efforts to not only support and drive changes to support existing stunting mitigation efforts, but also catalyze multi-sectoral collaboration to ensure sustainable outcomes with a thriving next-generation.

    Board of Trustees Member Belinda Tanoto has in recent years brought to the fore the challenges and opportunities surrounding stunting mitigation in Indonesia. Her 2019 and 2020 opinion editorials in the national newspapers stressed the importance of multi-sectoral support for whole-of-government efforts in stunting mitigation. Ms Tanoto added that the critical driving factors of behavioral change communication, social entrepreneurship, and public-private partnerships could help the nation navigate the multidimensional issue that is stunting.

    In recent times, the Foundation ramped up efforts in creating greater public awareness on the matter when it launched its inaugural Stunting Awareness Month in July 2020. The social media-based campaign reached out to tens of thousands online, providing educational and myth-busting information on the major human capital development impediment that is stunting.

    With more than one in four Indonesian children stunted and unable to realize their full potential, it is critically important that more organizations and institutions provide their support to help the country fight stunting and realize its sustainable development goals.

    The Multi Donor Trust Fund for Indonesia Human Capital Acceleration

    The World Bank’s Multi Donor Trust Fund seeks to support the Indonesian government to establish and sustain strong leadership, improve the quality of spending at the national and local levels, improve sector and local performance, and empower citizen engagement in frontline service delivery. This support leverages programmatic policy, advisory, analytics and technical support to help realize the government’s long-term vision in improving human capital results.

    The MDTF will finance a range of activities for which the World Bank has implementation responsibility. This includes four main components encompassing:

    1. Leadership, knowledge and learnings
    2. Support for sector reforms, jobs, equity and inclusion
    3. Local service delivery performance, capacity and innovation
    4. Behavior change communication, citizen engagement and social accountability

    The engagement pillars of the MDTF involve supporting the government in its USD 14.6 billion National Strategy to Accelerate Stunting Prevention (StraNas Stunting) implementation via policy support and the World Bank’s Investment in Nutrition and Early Life program; improving the quality of learning outcomes in school; and addressing regional inequalities in human capital development.

    Being one of the first countries to adopt the World Bank’s Human Capital Project, Indonesia is well-placed to fight stunting, due to not only the government’s resolve and leadership, but also the increasing support of various stakeholders united by a common purpose.

    Ko Zin Thet

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