PAPUA, Indonesia – Indonesia’s Special Autonomy (Otsus) Fund continues to play a key role in accelerating infrastructure development and strengthening economic independence across Papua. The funding is being directed not only toward improving basic infrastructure and regional connectivity but also toward developing local economic potential and enhancing the capacity of Indigenous Papuans.
Deputy Minister of Home Affairs Ribka Haluk said the government was strengthening oversight of Special Autonomy Fund management and accelerating disbursement to ensure that the funding delivers tangible benefits to local communities.
The Ministry of Home Affairs is also coordinating with relevant ministries and government agencies to assist regional administrations in meeting the administrative and technical requirements for fund disbursement.
“The Special Autonomy Fund must truly deliver benefits, with its impact directly felt by communities across Papua,” Ribka Haluk said while chairing a coordination meeting on Special Autonomy Fund governance in the Papua region.
She added that accelerating budget utilization, including the 2026 Additional Infrastructure Fund (DTI), remained a government priority. Through its Directorate General of Regional Financial Development, the Ministry of Home Affairs continues to provide technical assistance to regional governments facing challenges in the disbursement process.
These efforts are expected to improve financial governance, strengthen accountability and accelerate the implementation of development programs.
In Highland Papua Province, Special Autonomy funding is also supporting efforts to improve basic infrastructure. Head of the Highland Papua Regional Revenue, Finance and Asset Management Agency (BPPKAD), Noak Tabo, said the provincial government had received an additional Special Autonomy allocation of approximately IDR 465 billion in 2026, on top of its initial allocation of around IDR 260 billion.
Noak explained that the Additional Infrastructure Fund was being prioritized for essential infrastructure projects aimed at improving connectivity and public access to services.
“We are focusing the DTI on basic physical infrastructure development, such as roads and bridges, improvements to air transportation facilities, and the expansion of digital telecommunications,” Noak Tabo said.
Meanwhile, South Papua Province is projecting a Special Autonomy Fund allocation of approximately IDR 1.8 trillion for the 2027 fiscal year, covering the provincial administration and its four regencies.
Head of the South Papua Regional Revenue, Finance and Asset Management Agency, Ronald Evans, said the allocation formula takes several factors into account, including population size and the number of Indigenous Papuans in each region.
“The total Special Autonomy Fund allocation for 2027 for South Papua Province and its four regencies amounts to IDR 1.8 trillion,” Ronald Evans said.
Beyond infrastructure development, Special Autonomy funding is also being used to strengthen local economic sectors and improve community productivity, particularly among Indigenous Papuans.
Head of the Boven Digoel Regency Plantation Office, Paulinus Koymot, said the local government had provided assistance and training to Indigenous Papuan farming groups to help them develop agricultural and plantation commodities, including rubber, coffee and cocoa.
“Through the Special Autonomy Fund, particularly for Indigenous Papuans, training and assistance have been provided to farming groups, including guidance on management practices and how to organize and manage their members,” Paulinus Koymot said.
These initiatives highlight the broader role of Special Autonomy funding in Papua, extending beyond physical infrastructure to include economic empowerment and community capacity building.
With more targeted budget management and stronger coordination between central and regional governments, the Special Autonomy program is expected to expand access to public services, create new economic opportunities and strengthen the long-term economic independence of communities across Papua.
