Indonesia has developed an innovative new approach in showing how the United Nations' 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) can be implemented in line with local wisdom and customs to deliver best results. Focusing on total village development is the key to a successful bottom-up approach. This book provides an accessible account of how Indonesia has localized and augmented the SDGs through the 18 SDGs Desa (Village SDGs). The additional goal is Dynamic Village Institutions and Adaptive Village Culture. As the international community faces increasing challenges from health to climate change, this timely book will be welcomed by development specialists and policymakers alike. It is also essential reading for anyone with an interest in village development in modern Indonesia.

When I was named Minister of Villages, Development of Disadvantaged Regions, and Transmigration by President Joko Widodo, on October 23, 2019, I felt it was an extraordinary mandate and one that would entail significant challenges. I would have to solve development problems in 74,960 villages, 270 rural areas, 62 underdeveloped or ‘disadvantaged’ areas, and 619 transmigration areas throughout Indonesia, quickly, productively, and oriented toward tangible results. That was part of the President’s message when he introduced us, members of the Advance Indonesia Cabinet, to the Indonesian people.

In fact, life in the village, with all its dynamics, is very much a part of me. I was born and grew up in the village of Denanyar in Jombang regency, East Java province. After graduating from the Yogyakarta State Institute of Teaching and Education (now Yogyakarta State University) in 1987, armed with knowledge and experience gained from Islamic boarding school and my years on campus, I decided to live back in the village of my birth, so I could explore the lives of villagers, and together seek solutions to their problems.

In 1987, when I returned to my village, the number of poor people in Indonesia’s rural village areas was more than 20 million, while about 9 million were living in poverty in urban areas. By March 2020, according to data from Statistics Indonesia (BPS), the number of poor people in Indonesia amounted to 26.42 million or 9.78 percent of the total population. In rural village areas, there were 15.26 million poor people – a poverty rate of 12.82 percent. In urban areas, there were 11.16 million poor people – a poverty rate of 7.38 percent.

Considering this data, I have concluded the root of development problems in Indonesia lies in the village. The village is a source of problem identification; the highest poverty level is in the villages, most people with low health rates are in the villages, low purchasing power and low education levels are still synonymous with villagers.

For this reason, I believe that in order to improve the quality of life of the Indonesian people, to realize an Advanced Indonesia, one must start from the village.

Since the implementation of Law No. 6 of 2014 on Villages, the government has channeled village funds as a stimulus for villages to solve their development problems by themselves. In 2015, the government disbursed Rp20.67 trillion in village funds. The amount was increased to Rp46.98 trillion in 2016, then to Rp60 trillion in both 2017 and 2018, to Rp70 trillion in 2019, to Rp71.19 trillion in 2020, to Rp72 trillion in 2021, while the planned fund for 2022 reached Rp68 trillion.

So far, it must be admitted, the use of village funds has not been optimal in solving the problems that exist in the village. There is no single reason for this; factors range from village development planning tools to the quality of village human resources. For this reason, a framework for the direction of village development policy was needed, with a focus oriented toward tangible results.

In view of these challenges, I initiated the concept of SDGs Desa (Village Sustainable Development Goals) as an integrated effort to accelerate Indonesia’s achievement of the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), as regulated in Presidential Regulation No. 59 of 2017. Who would not be interested in the most complete development concept to date? The global SDGs include all development conventions practiced in the world, such as economic, social, environmental and cultural development, disaster mitigation, and so on. The 17 SDGs also aim to ensure that no one is left behind, meaning that all people must be able to benefit from the results of development.

In establishing the SDGs Desa, I added one sustainable development goal that is unique to Indonesian villages. So the 18 SDGs Desa do not just localize the global SDGs, but place them as an integral part of daily village life in Indonesia. The 18th SDGs Desa is: Dynamic Village Institutions and Adaptive Village Culture.

This additional goal is built around the local wisdom of villages in Indonesia, so that development is truly and deeply interpreted and conducted as an improvement in village life.

With these 18 SDGs Desa, village development, whether carried out by the village government, or through interventions by the supra-village (regency, provincial or central) governments, will be more focused and have a clear direction in accordance with the real conditions of the village, and include all villagers, with no one left behind. A planned trilogy of books on the SDGs Desa will comprise:

1. A book on the concepts and ideas of the SDGs Desa, namely this book.

2. A book on the methods of measuring the SDGs Desa.

3. A book on the results of the SDGs Desa.

This book is in the hands of readers because of the blessing of prayers from the author’s mother, Mrs. Muhassonah Hasbullah (Nyai H. Iskandar), the sincerity of his beloved wife, Lilik Umi Nasriyah, along with our children, in-laws, and grandchildren, all of whom have sincerely spent a lot of time with the author to assist in the creative and critical processes of putting his thoughts and ideas into a book worth reading. Hopefully this endeavor will be an inspiration to others, and become a ‘good deed’ that continues to reap rewards until Yaumil Qiyamah (Judgement Day).

To the many people who have helped with the publication of this book, the author is extremely grateful. May God reward you with much kindness.

As a son of the village, whose work is reflected in his dedication, ideals, solemnity and struggles, the author sincerely dedicates this book to all villages throughout Indonesia. The author realizes this book may contain some shortcomings. Nevertheless, it is hoped this book will serve as a dynamic and constructive discussion material for a building a better future for Indonesia’s villages. Therefore, the author expects feedback and suggestions from readers for improving future editions of this book.

It is the author’s sincere hope that the English edition of this book will provide foreign governments, development organizations and partners with greater insight into how Indonesia is adapting the SDGs to best meet the needs of the nation’s villagers.

Happy reading.
Wallahul Muwaffiq Ilaa Aqwamith Tariiq [Allah is the one who guides to the straight path].
Jakarta, February 2022 A.



Halim Iskandar

Cover
Foreword
Content
List of tables
List of figures
1. Village Development Agenda
2. SDGs in Village Development
3. The Urgency of the SDGs Desa
4. Localizing SDGS as SDGs Desa
5. SDGs Desa
6. SDGs Desa 18: Dynamic Village Institutions and Adaptive Village Culture
7. Epilogue: Villages of Hope
Bibliography
Index
About the Author