Heading to the IDF 2018: Efforts to Reduce Gaps between Underdeveloped and Borderline Areas

July 06, 2018

Trans-Papua road building. ANTARA FOTO/Sigid Kurniawan

There are 122 regencies out of 514 regencies/cities in Indonesia that fall under underdeveloped region category. Majority of the areas is in the eastern side of Indonesia. Actually, underdeveloped areas, borderline areas and outer most small islands have abundant natural resources yet their inhabitants haven’t tasted benefits of development. The causes are their isolated situation and limited access to public service and economic opportunities.

It isn’t an easy task to overcome gaps between underdeveloped areas and borderline ones. Some of the obstacles in the development of borderline areas, outer most islands and underdeveloped ones, are, among others: low access to basic service; low capacity of human resources; limited access to financial institution, market and economic activities; the regions’ poor accessibility and connectivity to growth centers; lack of understanding on sustainable asset and natural resources management; and lack of attention toward social characteristic and local culture.

Hundreds of academicians, economy experts and regional observers submit their ideas on solving gaps between underdeveloped and borderline areas. They provide inputs in forms of strategies according to top potentials as well characteristics from each region.

For instance, ideas from Siska Verawati, researcher from Center for Indonesia’s Strategic Development Initiatives (CISDI), titled “The Movement of Public Health Center Electricity Crowdfunding: Efforts to Improve the Quality of Primary Health Service in Remote, Borderline and Archipelagic Regions Based on Crowdfunding and Cross Sector Partnership”. This idea comes up when she reads the 2011 Health Facility Research that says about 10.5 percent from the total of public health center in Indonesia hasn’t received electric current for 24 hours.

To cope with electric requirement, volunteers of Pelita Khatulistiwa community attempts to embrace all stakeholders in society – private, individuals and government- through crowdfunding method. The result is solar cell installation or solar power electricity panel that has provided electric current for 24 hours for three public health posts, which are Lindu, Sulawesi Tenga, Sarina, East Nusa Tenggara, and Karataun, West Sulawesi, with benefit recipients amounting 15,500 people.

Another interesting innovation is explained by Nuraida Muji Eka Pratiwi who sharply makes use of the potentials of cocos nucifera. In her paper titled “COCOS NUCIFERA: Once Ignored, Now Prospering”, she explains efforts to erase poverty in Sarmi regency, Papua. This area has biggest economic potential, which is coconut palm or cocos nucifera. Unfortunately, this commodity is sold only in a form of “fruit” thus doesn’t bring additional values.

The National Development and Planning Agency or Bappenas and the Regional Development and Planning Agency of Sarmi then mentor the locals. The commodity which is once mere a fruit, now is processed into cooking oil, soap and VCO,  that contain additional values. The existence of a mini factory for coconut processing at district level brings direct benefits and multiplier effects for the public, which are providing fixed income, increasing skill and minimizing consumptive culture among the locals.

Another way of tackling gap by utilizing local potentials is presented by Syahrul Rahman, student of the Engineering Faculty of the Muslim Indonesia University, through a research titled “Simple, Cheap Diesel Generator as Initial Step Reducing Gaps among Dark Villages by Utilizing the Waste of Egg Shells Via Electrolysis Cell Method”. Syahrul fuses problems on electricity infrastructure gap with growing waste of egg shells.

Syahrul’s research shows that the waste of egg shells contain CaCO3 compound that can be extracted through electrolysis method by reacting it with HCl compound to form Ca compound. The resulted reaction yields ions that are able to produce electricity with Electrode. The result of the research is able to create alternative energy. Not only the result reduces the waste of egg shells but also it supplies electricity need to support economy development and public welfare.

That type of interesting innovations will be showcased in the peak of the Indonesia Development Forum 2018 in 10-11 July 2018. The forum that is initiated by Bappenas and the Australian Government through Knowledge Sector Initiative carries big theme “Pathways to Tackle Regional Disparities across the Archipelago. IDF 2018 drives accelerated development in Indonesia to be more equal and more sustainable based on knowledge, experience and fact. The result of the forum will be used to formulate Medium Term Development Plan 2020-2024.

There will be seven sub-themes to be elaborated in IDF 2018. Some of them are on efforts to reduce gaps between underdeveloped areas and borderline ones. Aside from the three aforementioned papers, there are still more eye-opening ideas and thoughts on how to resolve gaps between disadvantaged, remote and outer regions.

Insightful inputs come from Gerry Utama, researcher of the Geography Department and Environment Study of the Gadjah Mada University. His research titled “Optimizing Development of the Sea Border Region According to Geo Tourism Planning in Jemaja Island, Riau Islands Province.” Geo tourism is one of the breakthroughs in lowering gaps in the structurally poor Jemaja island.

Other speakers who will deliver their researches are alumnae of the US-Indonesia Scholarship Program Silvia Landa with her paper titled “ Study Case of Integrated River Stream Area as the Answer of Water Usage Competition in Sub-River Stream Area in East Sumba regency, East Nusa Tenggara”; Chairman of Environment Unit of Sinode, North Maluku, Titi Permata who writes “Improvement of the Capabilities of the Wari Ino Village Residents’ in North Halmahera in Applying Artificial Effective Technology by Adapting Freshwater Fishes to Community-Based Sea Food Fishes”; Senior Analyst from Kopernik, Lana Kristianto who writes “Leveraging the potential of women microentrepreneurs in delivering clean energy solutions: the Wonder Women Eastern Indonesia program”.

The next presentation with the same sub-theme is conveyed by student of the Mechanical Engineering Faculty of the Bandung Technology Institute with a paper titled “Stirling Engine 200 Watt Designing as One of the Solutions to Leveling Electricity in Papua”; Muhyiddin, Middle Planner of the Policy and Performance Analysis Center of the Bappenas who writes “Study of Community Empowerment Pilot Project Based on Local Customs for Underdeveloped Village in Border.**