Indonesia Strengthens Health Program Project Management with WHO Support
Indonesia is working to bolster project management for its health programs, collaborating with the World Health Organization (WHO) to enhance efficiency and impact. This initiative comes as Indonesia transitions to the WHO Western Pacific Region, aiming to improve regional health cooperation and address evolving public health challenges.
Transition to WHO Western Pacific Region
On May 23, 2025, Indonesia officially moved from the WHO South-East Asia Region (SEAR) to the Western Pacific Region (WPR). This unanimous decision by WHO member states, approved during the 78th World Health Assembly in Geneva, Switzerland, between May 19–27, 2025, reflects Indonesia’s strategic efforts to strengthen cross-regional health collaboration .
Kunta Wibawa Dasa Nugraha, Secretary General of Indonesia’s Health Ministry, emphasized that the move is motivated by lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic, specifically the need for enhanced cooperation with neighboring countries in the WPR that share similar epidemiology traits and public health issues . Indonesia shares land and maritime borders with 10 countries and has direct flights to 18, most of which are within the WPR .
Improving Project Management for Health Programs
The WHO is supporting Indonesia in strengthening project management for its health programs. This collaboration aims to improve the planning, implementation, and monitoring of key health initiatives .
This initiative is particularly crucial given Indonesia’s unique geographical position, with its eastern provinces sharing health challenges with Pacific Island countries and its western provinces having cultural and ethnic ties to Malaysia and Singapore .
Implications of the Regional Shift
The transition to the WPR is expected to facilitate greater knowledge sharing and collaboration on public health issues relevant to Indonesia’s specific context. This includes addressing challenges related to infectious diseases, non-communicable diseases, and health system strengthening .
The move also reflects broader shifts in how countries engage with global and regional institutions, as the multilateral order established after the Second World War is increasingly questioned .