As a form of Indonesia’s commitment in the framework of strengthening South-South and Triangular Cooperation (KSST), the National Population and Family Planning Agency (BKKBN) together with the Ministry of State Secretariat of the Republic of Indonesia, and UNFPA Indonesia will carry out Knowledge Sharing activities on Addressing Socioeconomic Dimensions and Devolution of Family Planning for Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao on 26 November – 2 December 2023 in Special Region of Yogyakarta.
South-South cooperation is a cooperation framework carried out through a broad framework between Southern countries in the political, economic, social, cultural, environmental, and technical fields. This cooperation can involve two or more developing countries, this can occur bilaterally, regionally, intraregionally, or interregionally. Through South-South collaboration, developing countries can share knowledge, skills, expertise, and resources to achieve their development goals through joint efforts. Furthermore, another modality of South-South Cooperation is Triangular cooperation, a collaboration in which traditional donor countries and multilateral organizations facilitate South-South initiatives through the provision of funding, training, management systems, and technology, as well as other forms of support.
Indonesia’s experience in managing family planning since 1970 has succeeded in reducing the fertility rate from 5.6 to 2.14 in the year 2022 (source: Family Survey Data, 2022). The use of modern contraceptives increased since that time. The government of Indonesia has strengthened the commodity security of contraceptives, improved health workers’ competency in family planning services, developed family planning services standards, and assurance of financing of family planning services through universal health coverage.
Furthermore, the high commitment of government and the involvement of religious leaders, community leaders, and faith-based organizations in program implementation are some of the keys to the success of the Family Development, Population, and Family Planning Program. Apart from that, various efforts and activities were carried out as innovations in achieving targets in the Program indicators. In 2022, Indonesia again succeeded in winning the UNPA Award in the institutional category. Indonesia won a similar award in 1989 for Indonesia’s commitment to the Family Planning Program.
Besides its responsibility for the Family Development, Population, and Family Planning Program, BKKBN was mandated by President Joko Widodo to become the chief executive of the Stunting Reduction Acceleration Team. The position of BKKBN in this team is supported by the issuance of Presidential Regulation Number 72 of 2021 concerning the Acceleration of Stunting Reduction. The President of the Republic of Indonesia stated Indonesia must achieve a target of 14 percent by 2024. Therefore, various convergence efforts were carried out by various cross-sectors, ministries, and institutions within the scope of Penta helix cooperation by implementing specific and sensitive interventions.
In June 2022, the Indonesian government signed a joint agreement with the Philippine government, in the fields of population, family planning and reproductive health, gender mainstreaming, and other related issues. Various activities between the two countries can take the form of training, high visit level, sharing knowledge, and technical assistance. UNFPA’s involvement is a form of collaboration to support cooperation between BKKBN and the Council for Population and Development of The Philippines.
In December 2022, at the Bi-National Annual Steering Committee Meeting of South-South Cooperation between Indonesia and the Philippines, which was attended by the Indonesian Government namely BKKBN, the Ministry of State Secretariat of the Republic of Indonesia, the Government of the Philippines and International Partners namely UNFPA Indonesia and UNFPA Philippines, a joint action plan was prepared and both parties agreed to continue cooperation in the fields of Population, Family Planning, and Family Development.
Regarding the above matters, Indonesia will share Indonesia’s experience in managing family planning, family development, and reducing stunting with the Philippines, especially for Bangsamoro. Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).
