Jakarta (Indonesia), 15 August 2023 – The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) Programme Office in Indonesia, the Ministry of Development and Planning (BAPPENAS), and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) convened the 13th biannual Programme Governance Committee (PGC) to review the cooperation between UNODC and the Government of Indonesia. The event convened over one hundred and sixty representatives from various government ministries and agencies. It included a review of UNODC’s programme implementation in the first semester of 2023 and plans for the second semester of 2023.
The 2023 UNODC – Government of Indonesia (GoI) programmatic work plan was developed and updated in accordance with the UNODC Global Strategy, the UNODC Regional Programme for Southeast Asia and the Pacific, as well as under the cooperation with the GoI as solidified with the approval of the Indonesian segment in the Regional Programme by BAPPENAS and MoFA. The Indonesian segment cooperation document was also developed in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) and Indonesia’s National 2020-2024 Mid-Term Development Plan (RPJMN 2020-2024).
The PGC was a culmination of a series of consultations with various government ministries/agencies at the technical level through Technical Working Group (TWG) meetings. The TWGs provided an opportunity to engage with partners at the implementation level, ensuring that proposed programmes continue to meet the needs of the GoI and are aligned with the Indonesian government’s national and institutional priorities. Preceding the PGC, the TWG meetings were conducted in July 2023.
In the opening remarks, Ms Valerie Juliand, UN Resident Coordinator in Indonesia, said that the partnership between Indonesia and UNODC started in 2007 with a focus on organized crime, corruption, drug trafficking, terrorism prevention and criminal justice response. She further added, “The UN is very pleased to see the Government of Indonesia’s commitment to addressing those issues and committed to supporting the Government in building a strong and prosperous nation where no one is left behind”.
Ms Zoelda Anderton, Officer-in-Charge Country Manager, UNODC Indonesia, expressed deep appreciation for the continuing cooperation with BAPPENAS, MoFA and various ministries and agencies under the PGC and TWG mechanism. The partnership with Indonesia, which has evolved since 2007, has become one of the most prominent country programmes of UNODC in Southeast Asia. Ms Anderton highlighted, “This year, we transition from engagement and cooperation under a country programme to a dedicated Indonesia segment under the UNODC Regional Programme under the UNODC Global Strategy for engagement with member states on addressing and preventing crimes associated with drugs, transnational organized crime, corruption, terrorism and ensuring effective criminal justice system”.
Mr Caka Alverdi Awal, Director of International Security and Disarmament, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, noted the emerging transnational crime-related issues Indonesia faces, including trafficking in persons and cybercrime. He expressed hope that Indonesia’s cooperation with its partners, including UNODC, would be able to respond to these emerging issues. He added, “The PGC mechanism, as a forum for planning, monitoring and evaluation of UNODC programmes, shall be leveraged to achieve Indonesia’s priorities and development goals”. He invited all participants to provide constructive feedback to evaluate implemented activities in the first semester and enhance planned activities in the second semester of the 2023 work plan.
During the opening remarks, Mr Dewo Broto Joko Putranto, S.H., LL.M., Director of Law and Regulation, BAPPENAS, highlighted the importance of aligning the activities in the UNODC annual work plan with and supported achieving national development priorities in the 2020-2024 Medium-Term Development Plan and the 2023 Annual Government Work Plan (RKP 2023), especially in priority No. 7 regarding strengthening political stability, law, defence and security and transformation of public services. He further stated, “The PGC mechanism also needs to be utilized as a monitoring and evaluation platform for the planning and implementation of UNODC programmes to ensure that all activities can be implemented in line with the respective ministries/agencies’ annual work plan and priorities”.
During the meeting, programme highlights from the first semester of the 2023 work plan from the six Outcomes of the UNODC’s programme strategy was presented and reflected the broad scope of UNODC’s cooperation with Indonesia. The 13th PGC also solicited input and suggestions from participants to enhance the work plan for upcoming programme activities in the second semester of 2023.
The PGC is held biannually and co-chaired by BAPPENAS, MoFA, and UNODC. The next PGC is expected to be convened in early 2024.
