Cabinet Secretariat Holds FGD on Data Utilization for Policy-Making in Human Development and Culture Affairs

Deputy to Cabinet Secretary for Human Development and Culture Affairs Yuli Harsono (Photo by: Documentation of PR of Cabinet Secretariat)

Cabinet Secretariat through the Deputy for Human Development and Culture Affairs held a virtual Focus Group Discussion (FGD) with the theme “Optimizing Data Utilization for Policy-Making in Human Development and Culture Affairs” on Wednesday (31/8).

According to Deputy to Cabinet Secretary for Human Development and Culture Affairs Yuli Harsono, the accurate and reliable data is pivotal in providing recommendations on government policy plans and programs.

“The use of accurate and reliable data will help formulate effective, accountable, and excellent policies,” Yuli said.

Yuli revealed that President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo gave attention to the importance of data in policy making in every limited meeting.

During the Implementation of the 2020 Population Census held on 24 January 2020, the President highlighted that reliable data has become one of the keys to policy making up until the implementation of the policy for effective results.

“The President also expected an increase in the Government’s ability to utilize data, and to develop a data system that can support effective and accountable policy-making,” he said.

On that occasion, Yuli also pointed out the importance of data utilization in formulating policies related to Human Development and Culture sector as emphasized by the President during several limited meetings.

First, at a limited meeting on Social Protection System Reform held on 5 January 2021, the President ordered the updates of Integrated Social Welfare Data (DTKS) so that data accuracy will be more reliable and more accurate.

Second, at a limited meeting on Strategies for Chronic Poverty Reduction held on 21 July 2021, the President ordered his Cabinet to improve the database of the population living in poverty, especially the extreme population.

Third, at a limited meeting on Evaluation of the Implementation of Public Activity Restrictions (PPKM) held on 25 July 2021, the President underscored that ministries/institutions must carry out data analysis as a basis for decision making regarding the PPKM. These data include the number of additional active cases, recovery rates, mortality rates, number of tests, and bed occupancy rate (BOR).

In line with the President’s directives, Yuli added, the FGD is intended to provide an understanding of data and the use of data in providing recommendations for the government policy plans and programs, especially in the Human Development and Culture sector.

“In addition, the FGD also aims at improving the ability of policy analysts to utilize data for effective and accountable policy-making,” he concluded. (Office of Deputy to Cabinet Secretary for Human Development and Culture Affairs/UN) (RIF/LW)