Baznas outlines flagship programmes for 2026-2031 to tackle poverty and empower communities
Jakarta (ANTARA) - The National Zakat Agency (Baznas) has presented a series of flagship programmes for the 2026-2031 period during a working meeting with Commission VIII of the House of Representatives (DPR) in Jakarta, ranging from tackling extreme poverty to community-based empowerment.
“The first flagship programme for Baznas 2026-2031 is Baznas Sigap Kemiskinan (Baznas Responsive to Poverty). We have received information from the Coordinating Minister for Community Empowerment regarding 88 districts/cities that still have extreme poverty, in addition to data obtained from our own survey team,” said Baznas Chairman Sodik Mudjahid in Senayan on Monday.
Beyond focusing on poverty alleviation, Baznas will continue its Baznas Tanggap Bencana (Baznas Disaster Response) and Beasiswa Cendekia Baznas (Baznas Scholar Scholarship) programmes, which have been running and received positive responses.
He explained that Baznas is also developing a new programme called Jaminan Sosial Baznas (Baznas Social Security), which includes support for housing, employment, and health services for those in need.
In the economic empowerment sector, Baznas will strengthen its business capital programme, which has been developed previously and will now be expanded through mosques and majelis taklim (religious study groups).
“Rumah Terang Baznas (Baznas Bright House) is a very affordable technology that can provide lighting at a lower cost than conventional electricity, naturally with permission from PLN,” he stated.
In the livestock sector, Baznas will continue to develop its Balai Ternak Baznas (Baznas Livestock Centres), which currently number around 130 units across various regions. The programme is considered to contribute to improving the welfare of livestock farmers while also supporting the community’s needs for sacrificial animals.
Additionally, Baznas is preparing a Lumbung Pangan Baznas (Baznas Food Barn) programme to strengthen community food security.
Meanwhile, the need for access to clean water is a particular focus through the Air Bersih Baznas (Baznas Clean Water) Programme, which will be developed by partnering with various strategic partners.
The final flagship programme is Bank Sampah Baznas (Baznas Waste Bank), which is part of the Green Zakat initiative. This programme not only focuses on waste management but also on empowering low-income communities engaged in the waste-based economic sector.
According to Sodik, all these programmes are expected to strengthen the contribution of zakat in supporting social development and improving the welfare of the community, particularly vulnerable groups and the poor.
“Our programme mandate emphasises distribution, utilisation, and empowerment that is fair, proportional, impactful, effective, sustainable, and institutionalised,” said Sodik.