In an effort to strengthen collaboration among developing countries in the field of development, the Government of Indonesia, through the Bureau for Foreign Technical Cooperation of the Ministry of State Secretariat (Biro KTLN, Kemensetneg), in cooperation with the Ministry of Population and Family Development/National Population and Family Planning Board (BKKBN) and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Indonesia, organized the South-South and Triangular Cooperation (SSTC) activity in Bali from November 4th to 7th, 2024. This program aims to share knowledge and best practices on meaningful participation and inclusivity in Family Planning and Reproductive Health programs within an Islamic context, specifically for the delegation from the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), Philippines. The participants consist of delegates from various key institutions in BARMM, including the Ministry of Health, the Population and Development Commission, Provincial Health Offices, the Bangsamoro Women's Commission, as well as representatives from local governments. Participants received intensive training on the role of Islamic organizations in Family Planning, efforts to accelerate the reduction of stunting through community empowerment, and various other reproductive health initiatives.
The opening ceremony began with the opening remarks from representatives of various parties, reflecting the strong commitment of each institution to supporting SSTC collaboration. Mrs. Mary Jane Casimiro, a participant representative, expressed hope and appreciation for the opportunity to learn directly from Indonesia’s experience in implementing Family Planning and Reproductive Health programs. She also extended her gratitude for the hospitality provided by the organizers.
Following her speech, Mr. Hassan Mohtashami, the Head of the UNFPA Indonesia Representative, highlighted the SSTC program as one of Indonesia’s main strengths on the international stage. Furthermore, he mentioned an interesting aspect of the SSTC program in the field of family planning in Indonesia is the participation of religious scholars (ulama), which has contributed to the program’s consistent success. This program has been one of Indonesia’s flagship programs. He concluded by reaffirming UNFPA’s commitment to continuously support the Government of Indonesia in implementing the SSTC program.
Echoing Mr. Mohtashami, Ida Ayu Ima Primashanti, Head of the SSTC Working Group, emphasized the importance of SSTC as an instrument for sharing knowledge and experiences among developing countries. Primashanti also stated that nearly a decade of close cooperation between Indonesia and BARMM now provides an opportunity for all parties to evaluate achievements and seek improvement opportunities. This is also part of the Ministry’s responsibility within Indonesia’s National Coordination Team for Indonesia SSTC. Finally, Primashanti highlighted the special significance of selecting Bali as the activity’s venue. As a predominantly Hindu province in Indonesia, Bali demonstrates how Family Planning and Reproductive Health programs rooted in Islamic values can work effectively within a diverse cultural setting. This sentiment was also echoed by Gede Pramana, Acting Assistant I for Governance and Community Welfare, Provincial Government of Bali, who stated that religious diversity in Bali Province has never been an obstacle in implementing Family Planning and Reproductive Health programs. Pramana also explained about reproductive health service policies tailored to the needs of persons with disabilities already in place in Bali Province.
The final remarks were delivered by the Acting Head of the BKKBN Bali Provincial Representative, Dr. Ni Luh Gede Sukardiasih, who emphasized the importance of collaboration among stakeholders to achieve reproductive health and population control targets through programs aligned with Islamic values in society. Sukardiasih then formally declared the program open.
Following the opening ceremony, on the first day, participants attended in-class sessions led by resource persons. During their stay in Bali, participants will visit key sites such as Kampung KB (Family Planning Villages), schools, and local institutions to observe firsthand how these initiatives are implemented and their impact on the local community. (Working Group of SSTC, Bureau for International Technical Cooperation)
