Jakarta (ANTARA) - Minister of Villages and Development of Disadvantaged Regions (Mendes PDT) Yandri Susanto has partnered with the Indonesia SDGs Center Network (ISCN) to accelerate the achievement of global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through community-based development at the village level.
Yandri said the collaboration represents a strategic effort to address challenges faced by rural communities, from poverty alleviation and reducing inequality to improving overall welfare.
“In my view, the core of the SDGs lies within the villages. What remains is how we align our efforts and provide proper guidance to ensure that village development is sustainable,” Yandri stated at the Ministry’s office in South Jakarta on Wednesday (October 29).
He emphasized the importance of cross-sector collaboration, including with the academic community, in designing and supervising rural development policies.
According to him, the involvement of lecturers and educational institutions can help ensure that every program aligns with the goals of sustainable development goals.
Yandri also expressed hope that ISCN will serve as a platform for village heads participating in study visits to China, enabling them to apply the lessons learned abroad effectively in their respective villages.
“We have just sent 21 village heads to China. That’s the essence of the collaboration I’ve been promoting everywhere. It can also serve as a pilot project,” he said.
He added that villages led by participants of the study program could become models for new innovations and policy implementation, encouraging active participation from both village officials and residents in achieving sustainable development goals.
Furthermore, Yandri underscored the importance of effective communication and synergy between the government, academia, and the community in supporting the national development vision under President Prabowo Subianto’s leadership.
He stated that cross-sector collaboration involving academics and local communities is crucial to formulating inclusive and well-targeted policies that address the real needs of rural populations.
“This collaboration is essential so that all parties can design programs and policies that truly serve the people. Physically, it’s impossible for us to reach every village individually without the support of multiple stakeholders,” Yandri noted.
Through its partnership with ISCN, the Ministry aims to strengthen infrastructure development, enhance human resource capacity, and foster independent and sustainable villages in line with the SDGs 2030 agenda.
