Blog
Published on September 27, 2021

Updating the socio-economic registration system and information system (Regsosek) for the elderly (SILANI) in support of Social Protection System Reform


One of the main hurdles of distributing social protection assistance to poor and vulnerable people in Indonesia, relates to government access to reliable and updated data. As the pandemic of 2020 hit Indonesia, having this type of data was incredibly important to help poor people in the economic recession. The increased poverty rate (from 9.41 to 9.78 percent, equating to 1.28 million people) in 2020, gives strong justification for an updated and upgraded system of data registration.  

Between 2017 and 2019, several regions struggled to update their data systems and with the number of poor people fluctuating, the real number of people deserving social assistance is not reflected in government databases. As a result, aid programs are also unable to effectively respond to disaster, climate and pandemic conditions.  

Thus, consolidation and integration of cash recipients into the Integrated Social Welfare Database (DTKS) is vital. In view of this, President Regulation No.86/2020 gives specific mandate to register social and economic data of all Indonesians by 2024. A short-term goal is to reach 60% registration by 2021 – this is being facilitated through updating the DTKS through the Village Monograph systems – starting from village to national level.  

Bappenas conducted a successful trial program in Aceh and West Java in 2020 – specifically, registering social and economic data and trialing the Information System for Elderly Citizens (Regsosek and SILANI). The trial helped collect accurate data, identify challenges, standardize processes and enhance government capacity in updating and collecting data. Although obstacles were present - the provincial and district governments responded very well to the program by persevering, highlighting its success and the willingness from government counterparts at different levels including the village level (whom will ultimately use and manage this data). UNICEF and UNDP under the COVID-19 MPTF program supported the government by providing various forms of technical assistance in this process.  

"We are grateful for the UN's support. In the near future, we expect the program to be the best funding method for vulnerable groups outside the family system. It is hoped that UNICEF can support expansion in several areas with different characteristics and replicate this program in the future. We hope the social and economy trial program can become a powerful program to strengthen socio-economic programs," Maliki, Director for Alleviating Poverty and Development of Social Welfare, Bappenas. 

 

Update of the Joint Work Plan on Adaptive Social Protection between the United Nations and the Ministry of Social Affairs (MoSA) 

Adaptive social protection (ASP) is one of Indonesia’s national priorities as set out in the National Medium-term Development Plan 2020–2024 and is part of the country’s strategy to reform social protection. Indonesia’s National Development Planning Agency (Bappenas) is currently developing an ASP road map, expected to launch end of 2021. This road map will serve as a guiding document for ASP implementation. It will include the establishment of umbrella regulation: the Presidential Regulation on Adaptive Social Protection. 

The Ministry of Social Affairs (MoSA) is the core actor for ASP. It forms part of MoSA’s program priorities, held in the document of strategic planning 2020–2024 by expanding regular social protection to also cover households affected by disaster, ensuring adaptiveness in the regular social protection program design to ensure immediate disbursement in the occurrence of shocks, expanding DTKS data by incorporating populations living in disaster prone areas including connecting these with disaster management data, enaction of minister regulation for ASP and incorporating prevention (capacity building for community) and rehabilitation (sustainable livelihood).   

In the first quarter of 2021, four participating UN agencies and MoSA agreed on a Joint Work Plan for ASP in 2021. Under the Joint Work Plan, the four UN agencies will: 

  • Provide input and recommendation to MoSA ASP design. 
  • Provide technical assistance on the development of an academic paper as a foundation for minister regulation on ASP (framework regulation of ASP within MOSA). 
  • Expand the existing MoSA information and communication system of disaster management called e-SIMBA. 
  • Facilitate capacity building for cash and voucher assistance and ASP by establishing synergies with Cash and Voucher Assistance Working Group, a national multi-stakeholder platform. 
  • Provide technical support for monitoring and evaluation on ASP.