CALL FOR PAPERS
Pathways To Tackle Regional Disparities Across The Archipelago

One of the priorities of President Joko Widodo’s Nawa Cita agenda is to ‘develop Indonesia from the margins’ by strengthening social, economic and human development in the country’s villages and regions. This has included efforts to accelerate development in the outermost and border regions to foster new centres for economic growth. Disadvantaged regions in eastern Indonesia have been a particular focus of efforts to reduce regional disparity.

While Indonesia’s sustained economic growth has resulted in a significant reduction in poverty, economic growth and public services have not been equally distributed and inequality is rising. Western Indonesia contributes around 80 per cent of GDP, while further east, regional economies have lagged, despite the fact that many eastern provinces are resource-rich. This has resulted in disparities between regions as well as within regions – including between urban and rural areas – particularly when it comes to provision of basic services. This is exacerbated by depletion of local resources by more developed regions and migration of working-age populations from under-developed areas.

Indonesia’s strategies to address regional disparity aim to accelerate growth and development based on the specific characteristics of regions. In regions where there is high potential to leverage national economic growth, the focus is on accelerating the development of growth centres and metropolitan areas. Where there is untapped potential for regional- or local-scale economic growth, the emphasis is on the development of regional or local centres for economic activity, rural areas, and medium-sized cities. In disadvantaged areas, border regions, archipelagic regions and eastern Indonesia, policies and strategies aim to develop infrastructure and improve basic services.

These strategies are designed to address the underlying causes of regional disparity in Indonesia including issues of connectivity and accessibility, access to basic services, local governance, and use of local natural resources for development.

IDF 2018 will explore these issues in depth. Within the overarching theme of ‘Pathways to tackle regional disparities across the archipelago’, it will focus on seven key issues: developing growth centres outside Java; accelerating the growth of under-developed regions; increasing access to quality basic services; building Indonesia’s digital economy; strengthening transport and connectivity; improving the effectiveness of local governments; and enhancing the quality of government spending on local development.

The forum will showcase research and successful practices from experts and practitioners across Indonesia and internationally, with the aim of generating recommendations for the 2020-2024 National Medium-Term Development Plan. This will support Indonesia to refine its strategies for closing the gaps between regions and ensuring that all Indonesians benefit from future growth and development.

Abstracts on the sub-themes for IDF 2018 are now invited.

Abstracts should be no more than 250 words and may be submitted in either English or Bahasa Indonesia. The deadline for submission is 8 May 2018. Notification of acceptance will be provided by 8 June 2018.

Call for Papers Opens : 22 March 2018
Call for Papers Closes : 08 May 2018, 23:59 WIB
Notification of Acceptance : 08 June 2018
Full Paper Submission : 22 June 2018
Paper Presentation : 10-11 July 2018

Inquiries on the Call for Papers can be directed to cfp@indonesiadevelopmentforum.com

Abstracts should be submitted BEFORE 8 May 2018 23.59 WIB

Abstracts should include a brief explanation of the reason for writing, problem, methodology, results, and implications. Presentation sessions will be designed to provide ample time for discussion. Both abstracts and presentations may be delivered in either English or Bahasa Indonesia.

Inquiries on the Call for Papers can be directed to cfp@indonesiadevelopmentforum.com

For more information: http://www.indonesiadevelopmentforum.com/2018/call-for-papers