President Changes KNIU Structure, Culture Minister Now Leads UNESCO Indonesia

JAKARTA - President Prabowo Subianto has restructured the Indonesian National Commission for UNESCO (KNIU) through Presidential Regulation Number 31 of 2026. One of the main changes is the appointment of the Minister of Culture as the Chairman of KNIU, an institution that serves as a link between Indonesia and UNESCO.

The Presidential Decree was promulgated on May 13, 2026 and became the new basis for managing Indonesia's cooperation with UNESCO in the fields of education, science, culture, communication, and information.

In the new rules, KNIU is emphasized as a national-level organization that is under and directly responsible to the President.

The structure of the KNIU also underwent changes. The Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture was appointed as the director. While the Minister of Culture served as chairman.

The KNIU members consist of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Minister of Basic and Secondary Education, the Minister of Higher Education, Science, and Technology, the Minister of Communication and Informatics, and the Head of the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN).

Other changes concern the KNIU secretariat. The secretariat's functions, which were previously in other ministries, have now been transferred to the Ministry of Culture. Ex officio, the unit that deals with diplomacy, promotion, and cultural cooperation will carry out these functions.

Minister of Culture Fadli Zon considers this institutional arrangement to be important to strengthen Indonesia's position in various international forums.

"The arrangement of KNIU through this Presidential Regulation is a strategic step to strengthen Indonesia's position in global forums," said Fadli Zon in a written statement, Monday, June 8.

According to Fadli, culture is a strategic asset that Indonesia can use to expand international cooperation while fighting for national interests at the global level.

Fadli said that more integrated coordination is expected to make Indonesia's contribution and voice at UNESCO stronger.

Based on Article 23 of Presidential Regulation Number 31 of 2026, all documents and administration of KNIU must be transferred to the Ministry of Culture no later than two months after the regulation comes into force.

In the future, the operational financing of KNIU will be charged to the budget of the Ministry of Culture. Meanwhile, sectoral working groups are still funded by relevant ministries and agencies according to their respective fields.

The government hopes that this restructuring will strengthen cross-ministerial and inter-agency coordination in advocating for Indonesia's interests at UNESCO, a United Nations organization that deals with education, science, and culture.