Observer: Kopdes Merah Putih Managers Must Have Clear SOP and Indicators

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Cooperative expert Agung Sujatmiko believes that the programme to place managers in Kopdes Merah Putih Village Cooperatives will be greatly determined by the clarity of standard operating procedures (SOP) and measurable performance indicators. Agung stated that the government needs to ensure detailed guidelines regarding the duties, functions, and roles of the managers placed in each cooperative. “The role of the placed managers must be clear, including their status and position in the cooperative,” said Agung, who is also Vice Chairman of the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin) for Cooperatives, when contacted from Jakarta on Friday (17/4). He said that such clarity is important because managers not only carry out the cooperative’s operational functions but also bring a mandate from the government through the implemented programme. According to him, the managers’ roles should encompass carrying out government tasks while also strengthening the cooperative institutions at the village level. In addition to SOP, Agung emphasised the importance of performance indicators as evaluation tools during the assignment period. He assessed that these indicators must be able to measure how much the managers contribute to the development of the cooperative, not just carrying out administrative functions. “The task of the placed manager is to make the Kopdes Merah Putih a consolidator and aggregator of the economy, not just an administrative employee,” he said. Furthermore, he believes that managers must also be required to have innovative capabilities in developing village economic potential, including processing agricultural products or local commodities to add value. According to him, strengthening the distribution system is also an important part so that village products can reach wider markets, both at the provincial, national, and export levels. Agung added that if the clarity of SOP and performance indicators is available, the success of the programme next depends on the government’s commitment to conducting evaluations and support. The government has officially opened recruitment for 30,000 Kopdes Merah Putih manager positions, with registration open from 15-24 April 2026. Those who pass the selection will work under the state-owned enterprise PT Agrinas Pangan Nusantara with a Fixed-Term Employment Agreement (PKWT) for two years. The placement of these managers aims to ensure that cooperatives are managed in a modern and professional manner.