MEDAN – APEKSI, in collaboration with the Pijar Foundation, strengthened synergy with the Medan City Government through a Collaborative Audience and Discussion for the FutureGen for Change (FGC) Program on May 13, 2026. Held at the Medan Mayor’s Office, this event aimed to accelerate innovation and sustainable regional development. Led by APEKSI Executive Director Alwis Rustam and Pijar Foundation Innovation Director Cynthia Krisanti, this collaboration brought together stakeholders to formulate concrete solutions to various operational and institutional challenges in the city, eliminating the need to rely solely on overly digital applications.
This strategic agenda was divided into two main sessions, focusing on problem mapping and garnering regulatory support. The first session began with a tactical discussion with the Head of the Medan City Development Planning Agency (BAPPEDA), Ferri Ichsan, along with members of Regional Apparatus Organizations (OPDs), such as the DKP3 (Department of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries), the Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD), the Environmental Agency, and the Health Agency. The session outlined five key stages of city government engagement, from needs validation through business matching to pilot project implementation. The priority issues successfully mapped include strengthening food security through urban farming, disaster early warning systems (EWS), upstream-downstream waste management, and the management of stunting and tuberculosis (TB).
In the second session, this commitment was reinforced through a face-to-face audience with the Mayor of Medan, Rico Tri Putra Bayu Waas, to align the FGC program with the region’s broader vision. The Mayor welcomed this initiative and directed that the collaboration focus on strategic sectors, including the integration of the Medan City One Data program, AI-based WhatsApp public services, and flood mitigation. As a concrete follow-up, the Pijar Foundation and APEKSI will soon draft a Terms of Reference (TOR) and a draft Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to establish a special Task Force. This strong synergy is expected to generate governance innovations that will directly impact community well-being and serve as a new benchmark for other cities in Indonesia. [JAS]