On the occasion of his upcoming retirement, UN News He spoke with Mr. Tharyat about the role of the United Nations development system in middle-income countries like Indonesia and how to make the most of its partnership with the United Nations.
What is the role of the UN development system in an upper middle-income country like Indonesia?
The United Nations development system must position itself as a strategic partner, with its core value in four areas.
- Provide the expertise necessary to translate the country’s needs into viable development programs.
- Connecting government, the private sector, civil society and international financial institutions to solve complex challenges.
- Serve as a catalyst for innovative financing mechanisms such as blended finance, green bonds and impact investments.
- Serve as a guardian of inclusion and universal standards to ensure that no population is left behind on the path to development.
Tri Tharyat (center) takes a field trip with UN development experts.
The UN’s role in Indonesia is reflected in our Cooperation Framework 2026-2030, which is aligned with Indonesia’s national priorities and covers human development, environment and decarbonization, as well as economic and digital transformation.
The Framework’s ambition spans 18 strategic priorities across three outcomes, with the risk of the effort being spread too thin to deliver deep catalytic impact.
Addressing Indonesia’s persistent disparities across its vast archipelago will require a level of specificity that a national framework can only partially offer. This will require a strong commitment from provincial and municipal leaders.
What would you consider to be the highlights of the UN Country Team’s contribution to Indonesia?
Any success of the UN Country Team is a success of Indonesia’s own vision and leadership. The UN has been a valuable partner in accelerating our national priorities.
There are three highlights that are measurable, nationally relevant and forward-looking.
- Accelerate the reduction of stunting through integrated nutrition and sanitation programs.
- Support Indonesia’s response to COVID-19 and strengthen its health system.
- Driving Indonesia’s green transition and climate resilience.
How is the success of these collaborations measured?
Stunting is a top national priority. The United Nations, especially UNICEF, the World Health Organization (WHO) and the World Food Program (WFP), have provided technical assistance, global best practices and supply chain support for maternal health, breastfeeding, as well as water and sanitation.
As a result, Indonesia has reduced the prevalence of stunting from 37 percent in 2013 to 21.6 percent in 2022.
When COVID hit, WHO, UNICEF and other UN agencies made life-saving contributions and helped with genomic surveillance, oxygen supply mapping, vaccine cold chain logistics and risk communication.
COVID vaccines donated by the COVAX mechanism are administered in Indonesia.
The UN supported the delivery of more than 400 million vaccine doses, trained thousands of health workers and helped maintain routine immunization during the pandemic.
When the world faced an unprecedented crisis, the UN Country Team was with us, not as outsiders, but as trusted partners on the ground, from Aceh to Papua.
Regarding the green transition and climate resilience, the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) have supported mangrove restoration, early warning systems, just energy transition planning and sustainable agriculture.
From protecting our coasts to creating green jobs, these partnerships deliver real results for our people and planet.
What advice would you offer to other Foreign Ministries on how to engage more effectively with the UN?
First, treat the UN country team as a strategic partner in meeting your national priorities.
Specifically, there are three practical tips I can offer:
- Fully align the United Nations Cooperation Framework with your national medium-term development plan, ensuring that the work program of each United Nations agency corresponds directly to specific national objectives.
- Work closely with the UN Resident Coordinator, who can convene all UN agencies, unlock global technical expertise and speak with one UN voice.
- Create coherence with simplified United Nations programs to ensure there is no duplication or redundancy.
What kind of UN would Indonesia like to see emerge from the UN80 process?
Indonesia would like to see a UN that is more responsive, effective and trustworthy, and better equipped to address today’s complex and interconnected challenges.
Women work at a solar power plant in Indonesia.
We look forward to a strengthened multilateral system that has real impact on the ground, particularly in supporting sustainable development, peace and resilience.
This includes a UN that is more coherent in all its pillars, more efficient in its operations and more inclusive in reflecting the voices and priorities of developing countries.
Ultimately, the UN must remain anchored in its founding principles while adapting to a changing global landscape. Above all, Indonesia envisions a UN that responds to the needs and aspirations of its members at large, rather than serving the interests of a few.
How do you see Indonesia’s role in the United Nations in the coming years?
Last October, we marked two significant milestones: the 80th anniversary of the United Nations and 75 years since Indonesia proudly joined this great institution.
We believe, now more than ever, that the complex challenges of our time can only be resolved through collective determination, shared responsibility and genuine partnership.
This conviction is not merely rhetorical. It is reflected in the deep and productive partnership between Indonesia and the United Nations system here at home, a partnership based on trust, dialogue and mutual commitment. We are determined to ensure that this partnership continues to deliver real and measurable impact for the Indonesian people.
Indonesia is actively seeking a non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council for 2029-2030, a candidacy that reflects our commitment to contribute more directly to the maintenance of international peace and security at the highest level.