Setting Aside 193 UN Member States, BKKBN Wins World's Highest Population Award

JAKARTA - The National Population and Family Planning Agency (BKKBN) has won the world's highest award in the field of Population, The 2022 United Nations Population Award (UNPA) or the 2022 World Population Award for the Institutional category.

BKKBN as Indonesia's representative has succeeded in eliminating other candidates from 193 UN member countries. Indonesia received UNPA in the government of the 2nd President of the Republic of Indonesia, Suharto, 33 years ago (1989).

The handover of the UNPA Award to the Head of the BKKBN Hasto Wardoyo through the Deputy for Training, Research, and Development (Lalitbang) of the BKKBN Muhammad Rizal Martua Damanik was carried out by the Executive Director of UNFPA at the UN Headquarters New York, Natalia Kanem.

Rizal Damanik proudly expresses his gratitude for the presentation of this award. "BKKBN is very honored to receive the 2022 United Nations Population Award", said Rizal in an electronic message received in Jakarta, Tuesday, June 14.

The BKKBN also expresses its highest appreciation to President Joko Widodo and several ministries for their support and cooperation so that this important achievement can be achieved. The BKKBN was established as a follow-up to the family planning movement which has contributed to national and international development.

“In National Development, in the last five decades, the BKKBN has succeeded in implementing the Family Planning Program in Indonesia. This resulted in a sharp decline in the TFR in Indonesia from 5.6 to 2.2 children per woman during the 1970s to 2000s", said Rizal Damanik.

“In addition, Indonesia's population growth decreased from 2.31 percent per year in 1971–1980 to 1.25 percent per year in 2010–2020, then reduced its impact on public services, such as education, health, and infrastructure. This population change will ultimately lead to an improvement in the standard of living in Indonesia", he said.

For information, the Committee for the United Nations Population Award UNPA selects the winner of the Award consisting of ten representatives of the United Nations Member States (Ivory Coast, Republic of Fiji, Gambia, Iceland, Republic of Indonesia, Lebanon, Republic of Liberia, Panama, Romania, and the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago) are elected by the Economic and Social Council for a term of three years (2022-2025).

Nominations proposed for Award from United Nations Member States may be proposed by Member State Governments; Intergovernmental organizations involved in population-related activities; Population-related non-governmental organizations that have consultative status with the United Nations; Academics Professors of residential universities or institutions related to residency; Award Recipient.

Executive Director of the UNFPA Center in New York, Natalia Kanem said "Indonesia through coordination with the BKKBN and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as well as the Permanent Representative of the Republic of Indonesia proposes the BKKBN to represent the delegation of the Republic of Indonesia as a nominee to compete for the United Nations Population Award UNPA with other nominations that have been proposed", said Natalia.

Natalia also added, "I am proud of BKKBN for achieving UNPA this time. BKKBN is an institution in Indonesia that contributes to the implementation of Family Planning. In addition, BKKBN is also involved in South-South Cooperation in terms of training and guiding population experts involving non-governmental and faith-based organizations on population issues", Natalia added.

On April 6, 2022, at the meeting of the Commission of the UNPA 2022 in New York, BKKBN succeeded in winning UNPA in the Institutional Category. BKKBN managed to get the support of 6 out of 9 voters (via a simple majority), eliminating institutional representatives from China, Mexico, Nepal, the Philippines, and Spain.