Prabowo Establishes Indonesian National Commission for UNESCO
President Prabowo Subiandum Subianto has officially formed the Indonesian National Commission for the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The establishment of the KNIU was formalised through the issuance of Presidential Regulation of the Republic of Indonesia Number 31 of 2026.
According to the copy of Presidential Regulation Number 31 of 2026, this regulation aims to strengthen Indonesia’s role in improving the quality of education, science, culture, as well as communication and information at the international level. As a national-level organisation, the KNIU is positioned directly under the President.
The policy, signed by Prabowo on 13 May 2026, mandates the KNIU to coordinate and align the central government, regional governments, and various stakeholders in various UNESCO programmes within the country. “The KNIU is tasked with facilitating, coordinating, synergising, and synchronising efforts in the fields of education, science, culture, as well as communication and information through cross-sectoral development of UNESCO programmes,” states Article 3 of Presidential Regulation 31/2026.
In addition to these coordination duties, the KNIU will perform functions including mapping, programme planning and alignment, strategy formulation, facilitation and synchronisation of cooperation, as well as the monitoring and evaluation of UNESCO programme implementation in Indonesia.
The regulation also outlines the organisational structure of the KNIU. Article 5 specifies that the KNIU consists of a directing element, a chairperson, members, working groups, and a secretariat. Within this structure, the minister responsible for human development and culture is appointed as the director of the KNIU, while the minister responsible for cultural affairs is appointed as the chairperson.
Membership of the KNIU involves several ministers and heads of agencies, including the ministers overseeing foreign affairs, primary and secondary education, and higher education and science. Furthermore, membership includes the minister in charge of communication and information, as well as the heads of government agencies handling research, development, innovation, nuclear energy, and space affairs.
The regulation also establishes the accountability mechanism of the KNIU to the President. The Chairperson of the KNIU is required to submit periodic performance and implementation reports. “The Chairperson shall report the performance and the execution of the duties and functions of the KNIU to the President at least once a year, or whenever necessary, following coordination with the director,” as stated in Article 20, paragraph (3).