Indonesia’s emerging population and development issues were presented at a high-level seminar hosted by UNFPA Indonesia, in collaboration with the National Population and Family Planning Board (BKKBN) and the Indonesian Demographers Association (IPADI) and the Population Coalition (Koalisi Kependudukan) in Jakarta on Monday 21 September.

Indonesia’s Vice President Drs. H. M. Jusuf Kalla, the Coordinating Minister of Human Development and Culture Ms. Puan Maharani, the National Population and Family Planning Board (BKKBN) Chairperson Dr. Surya Chandra Surapaty, UN Resident Coordinator Mr. Douglas Broderick and UNFPA Representative Mr. Jose Ferraris participated in the event, which was held at Borobudur Hotel.  

Indonesia’s  Vice President Drs. H.M. Jusuf Kalla presents his keynote speech at UNFPA’s High-Level Seminar on Emerging Issues on Population and Development in Indonesia in Jakarta on 21 Sept.

“Indonesia is now experiencing a demographic dividend, which means our large population should not be seen as a burden but as an asset,” said Indonesia’s Vice President Drs. H. M. Jusuf Kalla, during his keynote speech. “The demographic bonus must be entailed by a sufficient development programme and massive industrialization, otherwise that bonus will become a burden.”

Indonesia’s Coordinating Minister of Human Development and Culture Ms. Puan Maharani discussed population challenges and presented five main strategies for the design of population and development programmes.

“The main issues with the quality of the population in Indonesia are social inequity, poverty and human capital,” she added in her opening address.

 Indonesia’s Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture Ms. Puan Maharani delivers her opening address during UNFPA Indonesia’s seminar on Emerging Issues on Population and Development on 21 Sept. in Jakarta.

Three UNFPA publications on population dynamics were formally launched during the seminar: The “Indonesian Case Study: Population Dynamics and Sustainable Development”, “Monograph on Internal Migration” and “Monograph on Urbanization”.

“Sustainable development is a visionary paradigm that resonates globally and the prominence of the term has risen in recent years,” said UNFPA Representative Mr. Jose Ferraris. “The three pillars of sustainable development – environmental, social and economic – all require equal consideration and exposure. By addressing all three components in unison, the Indonesian Case Study [ICS] publication seeks to achieve a complete picture of what sustainable development could and should look like in Indonesia.”

UNFPA Representative Mr. Jose Ferraris presents Indonesia’s Vice President Drs. H.M. Jusuf Kalla with the Fund’s ‘Indonesian Case Study on Population Dynamics and Sustainable Development’, and two monographs on Internal Migration and Urbanization during a seminar in Jakarta on 21 Sept.

The ICS was created after UNFPA convened a high-level meeting on population dynamics in the context of the post-15 development agenda in March 2013, whereProfessor Emil Salim – the then-chairperson of the Presidential Advisory Board – indicated that he would like to take the lead in a UNFPA-commissioned case study on population dynamics and sustainable development in Indonesia.

“Indonesia’s large population will continue to increase but at a slower rate, along with rapid urbanization,” explained Professor Emil Salim during his address. “In order to increase the labour productivity growth, the development should focus on the population’s productivity. We need human capacity building focusing on science, technology engineering and mathematics. Indonesia is industrializing, therefore the population should be able to provide 1,000 more engineers to support the country.”

As part of UNFPA’s commitment to support the Government of Indonesia in utilizing the data from the 2010 Population Census, two monographs on internal migration and urbanization were also disseminated during the seminar.

“The analysis of these important population dynamics can help shape policy and be integrated into planning for sustainable development,” said Mr. Ferraris.

“When we understand the population trends and emerging issues we can ensure that development efforts have the greatest impact. We hope that the ICS and monograph series will contribute to future policy level discussions in relevant sectors, in Indonesia and internationally.”

Prof. Emil Salim and Prof. Sri Moertiningsih Adioetomo were joined by the authors of the internal migration monograph, Dr. Sukamdi and Dr. Ghazy Mujahid, and the authors of the urbanization monograph, Prof. Gavin Jones and Mr. Wahyu Mulyana, who both made presentations during the seminar.

Ms. Nina Sardjunani, Prof. Emil Salim, Prof. Sri Moertiningsih Adioetomo and Prof. Prijono Tjiptoherijanto during a panel discussion at UNFPA’s seminar on Population Dynamics and Sustainable Development in Indonesia.

The authors of UNFPA’s ‘Monograph on Internal Migration’, Dr. Sukamdi and Dr. Ghazy Mujahid, present their findings on the situation of Indonesia’s internal migration. 

Prof. Gavin Jones  and Mr. Wahyu Mulyana, authors of the ‘Monograph on Urbanization’,  present an overview on the issues and challenges on urbanization in Indonesia.

Other participants included IPADI Chairperson Prof. Prijono Tjiptoherijanto, the Deputy of Health Improvement form the Coordinating Ministry of Human Development and Culture Dr. Rachmat Sentika, Ms. Nina Sardjunani from the National Development Planning Agency (Bappenas) and the Chairperson of the Population Coalition/Demographic Institute FEB UI, Dr. Sonny HB Harmadi. There were also representatives from the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Ministry of Health and BPS-Statistics Indonesia, universities, research institutes, think tanks and civil society organizations.