Strengthening the Leadership Capacity of Young Parliamentarians for Sustainable Democracy

Details

Indonesia has undergone more than two decades of democratization since the Reformasi of 1998, with parliament serving as one of the key pillars in the process of democratic consolidation. The House of Representatives of the Republic of Indonesia (DPR RI) and the Regional Representative Council of the Republic of Indonesia (DPD RI), as constituent bodies of the People’s Consultative Assembly of the Republic of Indonesia (MPR RI), play strategic roles in carrying out legislative, oversight, and budgetary functions that directly contribute to the quality of public policy and government accountability.

In the current term of the MPR RI, 137 members, or approximately 18.7 percent, are aged 40 or under. Although this proportion remains below the percentage of young people in Indonesia’s population, the increasing representation of younger generations in parliament creates opportunities for renewing perspectives and approaches to policymaking. At the same time, young parliamentarians face various challenges, ranging from political dynamics and party interests to complex legislative processes and the need to uphold integrity and commitment to sustainable development.

Against this backdrop, the programme “Strengthening the Leadership Capacity of Young Parliamentarians for Sustainable Democracy” was organized as a platform for dialogue and learning for young parliamentarians and parliamentary experts from the DPR RI and DPD RI. The programme aims to strengthen democratic leadership capacities by providing a deeper understanding of political integrity and public financial management, public accountability, and sustainable development governance in the exercise of legislative, oversight, and budgetary functions.

Beyond strengthening individual capacities, the programme also encourages the exchange of experiences and perspectives among young parliamentarians from different parliamentary factions, as well as expert staff supporting DPR RI Commissions and DPD RI Committees. Strengthening the capacity of parliamentary experts is particularly important as they play a key role in supporting the substantive work of parliamentarians, including through policy analysis, preparation of legislative materials, and oversight of budget implementation.

The programme was attended by 37 participants under the age of 40, comprising 20 parliamentarians (16 members of the DPR RI and 4 members of the DPD RI) and 17 parliamentary experts from DPR RI Commissions and DPD RI Committees. Participants were prioritized based on their interest in sustainable development, inclusivity, as well as public governance and financial management, while taking gender balance into consideration.

The programme addressed four main themes: the challenges of young parliamentary leadership for sustainable development; financial integrity and public accountability; political ethics and integrity for democratic leadership; and the role of young people as strategic actors in democratic policymaking.

The programme was conducted through two main formats. The Young Parliamentarians Dialogue (Sharing and Reflection Session) provided a platform for participants to listen to presentations by speakers, exchange experiences, and openly discuss various leadership and policy challenges. Meanwhile, the Group Discussion (Breakout and Reporting Session) offered a more focused space for parliamentarians and parliamentary experts to explore key issues, share experiences, identify challenges, and map the respective needs of each group.

Through a participatory and reflective approach, the programme is expected to strengthen the leadership capacities of young parliamentarians and parliamentary experts, foster communication and collaboration across institutions, and generate recommendations that can contribute to strengthening an inclusive, integrity-driven, and sustainable democracy in Indonesia.

 

Young Parliamentarians Dialogue Panellists:

1. Mohammad Eddy Dwiyanto Soeparno – Deputy Speaker of the People’s Consultative Assembly of the Republic of Indonesia (MPR RI)

2. Danang Tri Hartono – Deputy for Analysis and Examination, Financial Transaction Reports and Analysis Center (PPATK)

3. Sri Budi Eko Wardani – Political Science Lecturer, Universitas Indonesia

4. Dadang Tri Sasongko – Ad Interim Secretary General, Transparency International Indonesia (TII)

Moderator: Winarso – Senior Investigator, Ombudsman of the Republic of Indonesia (2000–2017)

Facilitator: Julia Novrita – Director of Programmes and Development, The Habibie Center

 

📅 Date: 19 August 2026
📍 Venue: Le Méridien Jakarta