United Nations In Indonesia
Country Results Report 2021
Key Challenges and Lessons Learned in 2021
The persistence of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the emergence of new variants of concern, posed challenges to the UN and the Government’s implementation of the UNSDCF in 2021, with setbacks recorded against several of the framework’s indicators. For example, restrictions on movement compromised the effectiveness of capacity-building interventions such as training and workshops originally conceived to take place in a face-to-face format.
The pandemic also influenced development financing. Some of the Government’s budget that had been allocated to UNSDCF priority areas had to be re-allocated towards COVID-19 response and recovery efforts. Budget reallocations also influenced the sustainability of some UN-supported programmes, particularly affecting joint programmes. Moreover, the funding gap for the 2021 Joint Work Plan inhibited its full implementation in 2021.
However, COVID-19 also helped stimulate digital innovation and brought new opportunities to reach the most vulnerable populations in Indonesia—for example, through the SMILE application, the UN and the Ministry of Health helped accelerate the digitalisation of vaccination delivery across all of Indonesia’s 34 provinces. The UN can harness these trends to advance its commitment to leaving no one behind.
Across the UN in Indonesia, the increased use of UNINFO is reducing transaction costs and helping to integrate and harmonize UN system planning and reporting. However, restrictions on movement posed challenges to data collection from fieldwork and community engagement. These factors made it difficult to parse the results of the UNSDCF, particularly at the outcome level that corresponds to SDG indicators. In 2022, data collection and a long-term strategy to ensure the availability of disaggregated data will require further attention.
Joint programmes—supported by Results Groups and detailed in Joint Work Plans—have proven to be effective instruments to implement the UNSDCF and are expected to grow in number over the coming years. Joint Programmes have improved internal UN coordination as well as advocacy to the Government through the RCO. Their ability to leverage the specialised technical knowledge and networks of several UN agencies will continue to be an asset in responding to complex challenges such as human security and the socio-economic shocks brought about by the COVID-19 crisis.