Tito: Village Heads Must Elevate Skills to Foster Self-Sufficiency and Curb Urbanization

Indonesia's Minister of Home Affairs, Muhammad Tito Karnavian, is spearheading an initiative to bolster village development and stem the tide of urbanization by empowering village leaders. In partnership with Universitas Indonesia (UI), the 'Village Head Enters Campus' (KDMK) program aims to equip village heads with the necessary skills to drive progress within their communities.

Karnavian stated that 56 percent of Indonesia's population resides in urban areas, emphasizing the need to strengthen and develop villages to create employment opportunities, boost economic contributions, and achieve financial self-sufficiency. The KDMK program is designed to foster this growth, aligning with President Prabowo's 'Asta Cita' agenda, which prioritizes development starting from the village level to promote economic equity and poverty eradication.

The government has implemented several measures to strengthen village governance, including Law No. 6 of 2014 on Villages, the establishment of a dedicated ministry for village affairs, and the provision of village funds to reduce disparities between urban and rural areas. The KDMK program specifically focuses on enhancing the managerial and technical capabilities of village heads, encouraging innovative and creative thinking, and ensuring a consistent level of competence across the nation.

UI was chosen as a partner due to its standing as one of Indonesia's top universities. Through this collaboration, Karnavian hopes that village heads will improve their skills, leading to better village management and a more significant contribution to national development. The second cohort of the KDMK program includes 434 village heads from across 32 provinces, participating in a three-day intensive training from July 13 to 16, 2026.