Indonesia, UN Launch Joint Programs on Job Development and Social Protection

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Indonesian government, in collaboration with the United Nations in Indonesia, launched two joint programs worth US$3.15 million to support Indonesia’s efforts to create jobs and provide social protection for its people. 

The programs support the implementation of the Indonesia Roadmap of the Global Accelerator on Jobs and Social Protection for Just Transitions, which was initiated by the UN Secretary-General in 2021. The Global Accelerator promotes a job-rich recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic and supports countries in building greener, more inclusive economies. 

According to the Deputy Minister of National Development Planning (Bappenas), Febrian Alphyanto Ruddyard, Indonesia’s roadmap for the initiative supports three national priorities under the National Medium-Term Development Plan and Prabowo’s quick-win programs. 

The focus includes National Priority 2 on the digital, green, and blue economy, as well as National Priority 4 on education, vocational work, gender equality, and empowerment. 

“And National Priority 6 on adaptive social protection, data integration, social and care services, entrepreneurship, and affirmative economic empowerment,” he said, as quoted from the press release received by Tempo on Tuesday, June 10, 2025.

Meanwhile, Indonesia is implementing two programs under the Global Accelerator initiative, concerning modern and adaptive social protection, as well as closing disability inclusion gaps in social protection and labor. 

“Bappenas is fully committed to ensuring the Global Accelerator delivers impact, particularly in enhancing affirmative policies on social protection, skills development, and inclusion,” said Dr. Maliki, Deputy for Community Empowerment, Population, and Employment at Bappenas, at the program’s launch.

The program is supported by the International Labour Organization (ILO), the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), and the World Bank. 

At the panel discussion during the launch on Tuesday, the senior officials and technical staff, along with representatives from the Coordinating Ministry of Community Empowerment and the Ministry of Manpower, highlighted the importance of integrated and inclusive social protection and lifelong skills development.

They emphasized the importance of inclusive job development and social protection, particularly in the face of technological, ecological, and demographic shifts, including climate change and energy transition.

“By building a modern, adaptive social protection system linked with industry-led skills development, this initiative is improving job opportunities and expanding social protection, especially for those most at risk, including persons with disabilities,” said Gita Sabharwal, United Nations Resident Coordinator for Indonesia. 

“This initiative can serve as a model for other countries looking to build inclusive and future-ready systems.”

The joint programs will gather recommendations for reforms to social protection schemes, identify how social protection can be extended to those who are not covered by existing schemes, identify in-demand green and digital skills, expand equal economic opportunities to the most vulnerable, and improve skills development system for sustainable life-long learning in the country. 

The program is funded through the Joint SDG Fund with contributions from Belgium, Denmark, Germany, the Republic of Korea, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Monaco, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the European Union.

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