Jakarta (ANTARA) – The Ministry of Home Affairs (Kemendagri) has launched a national training program aimed at strengthening the leadership and public service competencies of regional heads across Indonesia.

The initiative was formalized through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between Minister of Home Affairs Tito Karnavian, Governor of the National Resilience Institute (Lemhannas) Ace Hasan Syadzily, and Chairman of the Purnomo Yusgiantoro Center (PYC) Purnomo Yusgiantoro here on Friday.

Minister Tito Karnavian said the training program was urgently needed as many newly elected regional heads lack sufficient experience in managing regional governance.

He emphasized that the ability to deliver quality public services is the most important reflection of the government’s presence among its people.

“At the very least, they must master basic and public service delivery. That is the essence of the state’s presence and the role of local governments, which should be felt directly by the people,” Tito said.

He added that enhancing the competence of regional heads must include three key aspects: public service, managerial capability, and leadership.

According to Tito, decentralization has made the role of regional leaders increasingly strategic, as they directly manage various government affairs with strong democratic legitimacy from the people.

However, he noted that the diverse backgrounds and capacities of regional heads present challenges in ensuring effective governance.

Tito highlighted that regional leaders must understand six minimum service standards (SPM) that serve as the foundation for essential public services, education, health, public works, housing, public order and community protection, and social services.

The Regional Leadership Strengthening Course (KPPD) is designed to combine elements of nationalism, managerial competence, and practical field learning.

Tito also encouraged participants to study best practices from other countries that have successfully developed efficient governance systems.

Through this learning process, he hopes regional leaders will return with innovative ideas that can be implemented in their respective regions.

“This program is expected to inspire innovation when they return to their districts or cities and apply what they have learned,” he said.

In addition, Tito underscored the importance of collaboration between the government and the private sector through corporate social responsibility (CSR) programs to ensure the continuity of the training initiative.

He affirmed that the ministry is committed to sustaining and expanding the program so that more regional leaders can benefit from it.

“The Ministry of Home Affairs is ready to continue launching this program together. We are confident it will be highly beneficial for regional heads, and as they advance, their regions will contribute more significantly to Indonesia’s development,” he said.

Meanwhile, Lemhannas Governor Ace Hasan Syadzily stated that the partnership represents a joint commitment to preparing strong, ethical, and nationally minded local leaders.

“This program will help them strengthen their leadership capacity to serve effectively in their respective regions,” he said.

Ace explained that the KPPD will be held from November 4 to 18, 2025, in Jakarta and Singapore, with a curriculum jointly developed by Kemendagri and PYC.

The sessions in Singapore will focus on key strategic issues relevant to regional governance, particularly in public service delivery.

“One of the main focuses will be on public services in health, education, waste management, and digitalization,” Ace said.

The KPPD program is expected not only to enhance the technical capacity of regional leaders but also to shape visionary leadership capable of addressing regional development challenges in an innovative and sustainable manner.