On October 20, 2025, marking the 1st year of Prabowo’s Presidency, academic from the University of Papua (UNIPA) Manokwari, Danni E. Waimbo provided a number of observations and assessments.
Strong Commitment & Focus
In his first year in office, President Prabowo Subianto (and Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka) has signalled the region of Papua as a priority in the broader national drive for inclusive growth. The policy direction has not only been ambitious, but also measurable and targeted.
Addressing Fundamental Needs
Among the most impactful initiatives are:
- Free school programmes. Free access to education has been rolled out in remote and inland parts of Papua, reducing barrier to learning and empowering the next generation.
- Nutritious meals for all. The “Makan Bergizi Gratis (MBG)” programme ensures that children and families in remote Papua receive nutritious meals—an essential step toward improving health and learning outcomes.
- Job creation & wage support. Efforts to reduce unemployment and create meaningful work have gathered momentum via public-works projects and paid internships, helping households gain more stability and income.
- Stabilising living costs. The region is seeing attention to price stability for essential goods in remote areas, helping many households manage their cost of living.
This Matters for Papua
Papua, often classified under Indonesia’s “3 T” category (Terdepan, Terluar, dan Tertinggal or Frontier, Outermost, and Disadvantaged), has historically faced geographic and infrastructure constraints. The direct-support programmes cited above represent a shift: meeting each community where it is, instead of expecting the community to match national norms.
Sustaining Momentum
This initial year of progress must now be consolidated. Key recommendations include:
- Bottom-up planning. Strengthening local planning and voices ensures that programmes align with what communities truly need on the ground.
- Cross-agency coordination. Ensuring that ministries, regional governments, and civil society work in synchrony is crucial for delivering real benefits to Papuan households.
- Maintaining consistency. Performance to date shows promise, but sustained effort will be required for the full potential of Papua’s development to be realised.
Papua’s rich cultural heritage, natural beauty and dynamic communities deserve the same opportunities enjoyed elsewhere in Indonesia. The current programme of free education, nutritious meals, job creation and cost-of-living support offers a strong foundation. As stakeholders — from government officials to local communities — continue to collaborate, the vision is clear: Papua not only catching up, but moving ahead. We look forward to a future where every child in Papua can access quality school, every family can access nutritious food, and every young adult can find dignified work.
West Papua Now 