Jakarta, October 30, 2025 – The Europe Today: Indonesia’s Minister of Villages, Development of Disadvantaged Regions, and Transmigration (Mendes PDT) Yandri Susanto has announced a partnership with the Indonesia SDGs Center Network (ISCN) to accelerate the achievement of global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through community-based development at the village level.
Speaking at the Ministry’s office in South Jakarta on Wednesday, Yandri described the collaboration as a strategic effort to address key challenges faced by rural communities, including poverty reduction, inequality, and the improvement of overall welfare.
“In my view, the core of the SDGs lies within the villages. What remains is how we align our efforts and provide proper guidance to ensure that village development is sustainable,” Yandri stated.
He highlighted the importance of cross-sector collaboration, particularly the involvement of the academic community, in formulating and supervising rural development policies. According to the Minister, the participation of lecturers and educational institutions will help ensure that every program is consistent with the SDGs framework.
Yandri expressed optimism that ISCN would serve as a platform for village heads participating in overseas study programs—such as the recent visit of 21 village heads to China—to apply innovative approaches and best practices in their respective localities.
“That’s the essence of the collaboration I’ve been promoting everywhere. It can also serve as a pilot project,” he added, noting that villages led by participants of the study program could become models for innovation and effective policy implementation.
The Minister also emphasized the importance of synergy and open communication among government institutions, academia, and local communities to support the national development vision under the leadership of President Prabowo Subianto.
“Cross-sector collaboration is crucial so that all parties can design programs and policies that truly serve the people. Physically, it’s impossible for us to reach every village individually without the support of multiple stakeholders,” Yandri noted.
Through its partnership with ISCN, the Ministry aims to strengthen rural infrastructure, enhance human resource capacity, and promote independent and sustainable village development in alignment with the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals agenda.
