TNP2K Field Visit and the Launch of the ‘One Door Service’ in East Belitung

27 March 2015

In conjunction with the inauguration of the ‘One Door Service’ for Poverty Reduction in the district of East Belitung, Bangka Belitung, Bambang Widianto, the Executive Secretary of the National Team for the Acceleration of the Poverty Reduction (TNP2K) met with Basuri Tjahaja Purnama, Governor of East Belitung. The Local Government Working Unit (Satuan Kerja Pemerintah Daerah; SKPD) of East Belitung was also present (26/3/2015). At the event, Bambang Widianto expounded on the course of poverty reduction policies and the important role of local government in accelerating poverty reduction.

He described three main challenges to development efforts in Indonesia, namely: Poverty, Inequality and Vulnerability. These are key priorities to address in managing the poverty reduction effort. The first step in overcoming these challenges is better targeting based on data about those in need. Currently, the Government operates a Unified Database (UDB) for Social Protection Programmes and has developed a UDB tailored specifically to East Belitung characteristics.

“We are very proud that East Belitung is aware of the importance of integrated targeting and has made requisite preparations for the national UDB. This is a major step forward in the effort to reduce poverty in East Belitung, which has led to the launch of the ‘One Door Service’ for poverty reduction,” explained Bambang Widianto.

Integrated targeting in East Belitung was made possible through four distinct processes: national proxy means testing, multiple dimensional array sorting tailored to East Belitung, verification and validation and finally by targeting social protection programme beneficiaries. East Belitung is among Indonesia’s first districts to make us of this methodology.

At the event, Basuri Tjahaja Purnama said that the ‘One Door Service’ launch was made possible thanks to the UDB for East Belitung, as well as the human resources that are a key component of front-line services at the subdistrict level. He explained that the East Belitung government has successfully reduced poverty and unemployment in the district over the last three years, has succeeded in improving the quality of its citizens’ lives and achieved significant economic growth.