Ida Ningrum, Head of Statistics Department, West Java Province Communication and Information Office, Indonesia
By Medha Basu
Women in GovTech Special Report 2020
How do you use technology/policy to improve citizens’ lives?
Technology has become a tool in various conveniences. People are now exposed to information every second. But are they consuming valid and responsible information?
Once President of Indonesia, Joko Widodo, stated data is now our nation's new wealth, it is even more valuable than oil. Yet the current situation is that citizens find it hard to get accurate data.
In 2020 we, the Information Communication and Informatics Department of West Java, came up with a solution to give easy-access data for the public. Open Data Provinsi Jawa Barat (www.data.jabarprov.go.id) is an innovation to serve a fast, easy, accurate, and free website-based data storage.
By that, we hope everyone can get the same privilege to access valid data and information to actively contribute to West Java's development. Other than that, that is one of the ways for the government to always be transparent towards the public. Now every citizen can find out how the government's work is going as well as evaluating them.
What was the most impactful project you worked on this year?
This year has been a tough journey for all of us. Beside all the things that happened, everyone has done a really great job to keep focus on what we were doing so far. In cooperation between Diskominfo Jawa Barat and Bappeda Jawa Barat, we proudly announce that West Java Province has won the Bhumandala Rajata Award (Silver Medal) -- Geospatial Information Network Node Award by Badan Informasi Geospasial (BIG) Indonesia.
With the Presidential Decree 39 in 2019 about Satu Data, there is a commitment that geospatial information execution must meet data standards, has standard metadata, and meets data interoperability rules. Establishment of UPTD Pusat Layanan Digital Data dan Informasi Geospasial is expected to improve utilization of data by the government as well as the public.
What is one unexpected learning from 2020?
One of reasons why previously there is no data storage that was easily accessible to the public was because there was no team that specifically managed the data itself. By that problem I propose the governor's decision regarding the formation of a data management team, more familiarly referred to as Tim Sapa Jawara. The governor's decision was signed and ratified on 4 November 2020.
What tool or technique particularly interests you for 2021?
The device that will be interesting are the various applications that are distributed freely which provide convenience to users in the midst of the limited space available today.
What are your priorities for 2021?
After launching Open Data Jabar, I hope we can focus more on the other innovations which are Satu Data Jawa Barat and Satu Peta Jawa Barat. Those two innovations are continuation of Open Data Jabar which are specifically targeted to the public, the Satu Data and Satu Peta are one big data storage for all data whether confidential, for internal, or for the public.
What advice would you give to women looking to start a career in GovTech?
Everyone has their own drive for each step that will be passed or decided to live. For women with an interest in information technology and sharing knowledge in a world with increasingly biased boundaries with technology penetration, GovTech will be the best tool for developing broad knowledge, knowledge and networks.
Write a message for your future self.
The future is full of uncertainty. Therefore, consider each step, control your emotions and promise that the effort made will primarily mean to be yourself in the framework of worship and encouragement to help others.