BRAC formalises partnership with Indonesia's Ministry of National Development Planning

Date: 03 Nov 2026

Press Release Courtney Calardo, Head of Communications and Partnerships

Jakarta, Indonesia – On 3 November 2026, BRAC signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Indonesia’s Ministry of National Development Planning (Bappenas). Abdurrahman Syebubakar, Country Lead in Indonesia, represented BRAC at the signing alongside Dr. Maliki, Deputy Minister of Bappenas.

The MoU marks a significant milestone in BRAC’s institutional establishment in Indonesia and provides the basis for the issuance of its Permanent Principal Permit, formalising the organisation’s long-term presence and engagement in the country.

“We look forward to strengthening our partnership with the Government of Indonesia and advancing poverty reduction through integration of the evidence-based Graduation approach,” said Syebubakar.

The government’s existing social protection and economic empowerment programmes already deliver the key components of what evidence shows are the Graduation Essentials, including access to basic services, asset transfers, and coaching. However, they are currently provided in a fragmented manner, rather than a sequenced package, and require enhanced implementation quality in order to effectively reach and meet the multidimensional needs of those left behind.

The Government of Indonesia is seeking ways to integrate the Graduation approach into existing schemes for this very reason, which BRAC is supporting as a technical partner and through coordination support.

Since 2023, BRAC has been building a country presence in Indonesia and cultivating relations with the government, supporting its growing commitment to combat extreme poverty. BRAC has focused on understanding and aligning the different institutional preferences, priorities, and programmes across central and local government institutions, exploring opportunities to position Graduation within existing efforts and identify viable pathways to scale.

BRAC’s overarching goal in Indonesia is to equip the Indonesian government to deliver scaled, well-adapted, administratively feasible, technically sound, and institutionally sustainable Graduation programming that transforms the lives of people in extreme poverty. To shift the system and address the barriers, BRAC is working with the government concurrently at the national and subnational level—influencing high-level policy and design support across six to eight provinces, and supporting the testing, refinement, and learning of Graduation-style programmes to inform their enhancement and expansion. With BRAC’s support, the government aims to reach at least 1 million households by 2030.

About BRAC International

BRAC International achieves large-scale transformative change by empowering women and their families to overcome poverty, and become resourceful and resilient. Our integrated approach brings together social development, social enterprise and financial services to lift people out of poverty. We develop and implement cost-effective, evidence-based programmes in partnership with communities, collaborating with governments, policymakers, and civil society for long-term impact at scale.

Born and proven in the South, our approach is grounded in the conviction that people living in poverty and inequality can be agents of change if they are empowered with the skills, tools and hope they need to change their lives.

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