41. Digitising the social safety net: Lessons from Indonesia
- Author:
- Hilman Palaon
- Publication Date:
- 07-2024
- Content Type:
- Commentary and Analysis
- Institution:
- Lowy Institute for International Policy
- Abstract:
- The digitisation of social safety nets can help drive inclusion and reduce poverty while fostering more resilient social and economic development. Indonesia’s experience offers important lessons for other countries in how to do so. There is no one-size-fits-all approach. Indonesia learned from international examples while developing specific solutions tailored to its needs. Experimentation, sustained political will, and keeping pace with fast-changing technology have been key to its success. A well-executed digitised social safety net offers direct operational gains, including by combatting inefficiency, fraud, and corruption in the provision of social welfare, many spin-off benefits such as expanding digital and financial literacy in society, and contributes to macro-level stability by managing economic shocks and enhancing public trust in government. The next steps in Indonesia’s journey should focus on incorporating digital ID and data analytics to improve the performance and integrity of an expanded social safety net system. Strengthening cybersecurity and data protection will also be critical. A key political test will be the recertification and eligibility agenda, to graduate citizens from social assistance programs once they are no longer in need of them.
- Topic:
- Cybersecurity, Resilience, Digitization, Inclusion, and Social Assistance
- Political Geography:
- Indonesia and Southeast Asia