JAKARTA (November 26, 2024) — Vice Minister of Social Affairs Agus Jabo Priyono met Christopher Elias, President of The Global Division of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (B&MGF), in Jakarta (11/26). In this meeting, the Deputy Minister explained the ministry's priority program; graduating social assistance recipients to transform poor people into empowered people.

Agus emphasized the importance of collaboration between institutions to create integrated social welfare data, targeted to be completed by the end of 2024 and used starting in 2025. President Prabowo is targeting the poverty rate to drop to 4.5% in 2029, which shows the success of the social assistance graduation program.

Christopher Elias welcomed Ministry of Social Affairs program and stated the potential for collaboration. The Chairman of PBNU, Gus Ulil, who was also present, said that PBNU has collaborated with B&MGF in several programs. This meeting will be forwarded to the Minister of Social Affairs to discuss follow-up cooperation.