In Indonesia, Prakerja Moves the Needle on SDG Progress

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Right now, progress on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is lagging globally. Halfway to the SDGs’ 2030 deadline, none of the 17 goals to end poverty and protect the environment is on track, and only 15% of the 140 targets for which data are available look likely to be met.

Against this dismal background, it is worth noting that a handful of High Impact Initiatives highlighted by the United Nations have been punching above its weight in delivering impact. One of them is Indonesia’s Kartu Prakerja program, a massive government program which has successfully upskilled some 17 million beneficiaries since its establishment in 2020.

Indonesia, as a middle-income country with an estimated 270-million strong population, is no exception. It is critical for the government to ensure inclusive growth in order to safeguard prosperity and stability for this extremely diverse nation. History has shown that marginalization and rising income differentials have proved fertile ground for bloody dissent on this island archipelago.

And one of the best ways to ensure peace and social cohesion is to enable people from all walks of life to meaningfully participate in economic growth.

 A Beacon of Progress

Established in 2020, the Kartu Prakerja Program has received recognition from organizations such as UNDP, UNSGSA, and UNESCO for  its extraordinary accomplishment in upskilling 17.6 million Indonesian working-age individuals. David Atchoarena, Director of the UNESCO Institute for Lifelong Learning, has hailed Prakerja as a “game changer” for expanding learning opportunities among underserved segments.

Prakerja’s achievements directly contribute to eight SDGs as follows, ranging from quality education to no poverty and zero hunger to gender equality, and partnerships for the goal. In other words, by tackling lifelong education, the program’s impact ripples out, accelerating progress in multiple areas.

Access to Learning for All

Since its establishment in 2019, Indonesia’s Kartu Prakerja Program has enabled 17 million adult beneficiaries across Indonesia’s vast archipelago to access upskilling activities. Leveraging digital technology to reach remote participants and encourage women to learn from the comfort of their homes, Prakerja has overcome geographical and social barriers.

Twenty-seven-year-old Bonita Titi Pinontoan from Papua, for example, was able to get a job as a waiter on an international cruise ship after she took English training through Prakerja. Now, she helps support 30 foster children in her hometown of Biak Numfor.

Previously, only 10.3% of the Indonesian workforce had ever participated in any training according to the data from the Statistics Indonesia. Moreover, over 50 percent of participants have been female. According to a J-Pal study, beneficiaries increased their monthly income by  10 percent or around IDR 122,500 (est US$8) on average.

Such examples are powerful examples of how upskilling can tangibly impact outcomes for participants, empowering them to create positive change.

Laying the Foundations for Peace, Prosperity & Growth

In an era marked by digitalization, mechanization, and artificial intelligence, upskilling platforms like Prakerja have become paramount. Individuals of working age must adapt to the constant

threat of disruption and require support to access upskilling opportunities. Neglecting this could lead to dangerous disparities and jeopardize both individual earning potential and social cohesion.

As Yenny Wahid, Director of The Wahid Foundation at a recent SDG Acceleration Day panel event on 17 September 2023, New York, “Social conflicts happen not because of mere differences…it is triggered by a collective feeling of being sidelined, marginalized, or abandoned.”

By giving participants a path to upskill, Prakerja has demonstrably opened up avenues to labor force participation and entrepreneurship. A study by PRESISI in 2021 found that enrollment in Prakerja increased the earnings of wage-earning women by 33% relative to non wage-earning women. Anecdotes from participants saying that Prakerja helped them to shift careers or open business are also plentiful.

Former housewife Oktifiana Resti (30) baking business Gawe Kitchen, which she started after joining Prakerja, wound up becoming a sustainable source of income for her family, to the point where her husband joined her. Today, she has joined the legions of Indonesia’s e-commerce entrepreneurs, selling Gawe Kitchen’s baked goods on multiple digital platforms including Gofood, Tokopedia, Grab and Shopee.

As Indonesia continues its transformation into a modern nation, equitable learning opportunities, like those championed by the Prakerja program, are among the most critical upstream factors for achieving the SDG goals. By empowering millions with education and skills, Prakerja is not just transforming lives but also paving the way for a more sustainable and inclusive future.