Indonesian Ministry of Home Affairs Seeks Collaboration to Reward High-Performing Regional Governments

Indonesia's Ministry of Home Affairs is fostering collaboration with various ministries and state agencies to establish a system for appreciating high-performing regional governments. This initiative seeks to expand the scope of recognition and motivate local governments to enhance their effectiveness across public service and development sectors. Minister of Home Affairs Tito Karnavian announced that the 2026 Regional Government Achievement Award, now in its second batch, has commenced in Batam City, Riau Islands. Unlike the initial round, this second phase specifically targets achievements in environmental management, education, health, and the implementation of the '3 million homes' housing program. Karnavian expressed his desire for ministries and agencies with specific programs to participate in offering awards, thereby supporting regional governments that excel in their respective fields. He cited the Ministry of Public Works and Housing's provision of housing renovation quotas for regional governments that successfully implement the '3 million homes' initiative as an example. The judging process is also designed to be collaborative, involving relevant ministries such as the Ministry of Environment and Forestry for environmental assessments, and the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Public Works, and Statistics Indonesia for evaluations in health, education, and housing. The awards serve a dual purpose: providing incentives for regional governments to improve their performance and showcasing competent regional leaders to the public, thereby balancing the narrative beyond just problematic officials. Karnavian also noted that such recognition can boost the popularity and electability of regional leaders.