Women Empowered, Strengthening Social and Economic Resilience Through the Srikandi Jaga Desa Movement

Village women play a strategic role in maintaining family resilience and are the main drivers of the local economy. Through the Srikandi Jaga Desa movement, this role is now being strengthened into a national initiative that encourages women to be more actively involved in village development, economic empowerment, and the protection of the younger generation. The movement, an official wing of the National Association of Village Consultative Bodies (Abpednas), positions women as important actors in creating socially and economically resilient villages. In addition to maintaining family and community peace, women are encouraged to ensure children grow up in a healthy environment, safe from various negative influences, and to help preserve the living space and communal assets of the village. Strengthening this role is increasingly relevant given that women’s contribution to the national economy continues to rise. According to 2024 data from Statistics Indonesia (BPS), 64.5% of micro, small, and medium enterprise (MSME) operators in Indonesia are women, totalling around 37 million people. Women’s contribution to the MSME sector also accounts for approximately 61% of the national Gross Domestic Product (GDP). The magnitude of this contribution is a key reason to continue strengthening the economic independence of women in rural areas. Through the development of MSMEs based on local potential and increased participation of women in public leadership, villages are expected to have stronger resilience in facing various social and economic challenges. This commitment was the main focus of the first National Conference (Munas) of Srikandi Jaga Desa in Jakarta on Thursday (2/7/2026). The forum served as the first national consolidation moment for prospective administrators from the central to regional levels before the official inauguration on Friday (3/7/2026). Ella Nurlaela Tubagoes, Chairwoman of the Srikandi Jaga Desa Central Executive Board, stated that the organisation was formed as a platform to strengthen women’s participation in village development in a more structured manner. According to her, women have a large contribution in various sectors, from family, education, and health to the economy and community empowerment. Therefore, an organisation is needed that can consolidate all this potential to have a broader impact on village development. “Srikandi Jaga Desa will be a partner to village governments, Village Consultative Bodies (BPD), and the community in overseeing transparent development, encouraging MSME empowerment, food security, improving human resource quality, protecting women and children, and strengthening the family economy,” said Ella. During the conference, Prof Reda Manthovani, Chair of the Abpednas Supervisory Board, emphasised that women have an important position in strengthening the oversight function at the village level. He stated that the active involvement of women in overseeing village policies would strengthen governance and minimise the potential for irregularities in development implementation. “The presence of Srikandi Jaga Desa is not merely an organisational complement, but a rational and humanist pillar of oversight at the grassroots level. When women are actively involved in overseeing the direction of village policy, the potential for irregularities can be suppressed and the protection of the community’s living space becomes far more measurable,” said Reda. Meanwhile, Indra Utama, Chairman of the Abpednas Central Executive Board, assessed that village development cannot run optimally without the involvement of women as part of the social foundation of the community. He affirmed that Srikandi Jaga Desa was formed as a strategic wing of Abpednas to strengthen collaboration between BPDs and women’s groups in creating villages that are resilient in facing various challenges. “Building an independent and strong village cannot be done partially, let alone by leaving behind the role of women. Srikandi is present as a strategic wing of Abpednas to touch the most vital social foundation. This synergy between the BPD and women’s initiatives will create a village ecosystem with high resilience in facing the challenges of the times,” he said. Support for the movement also came from Sherly Tjoanda Laos, a member of the Srikandi Jaga Desa Advisory Board. Although only scheduled to attend the inauguration ceremony on Friday (3/7/2026), Sherly conveyed a message emphasising the importance of strengthening the family economy as the foundation for village development. According to her, economically independent women will have greater space in determining the direction of village development while also becoming protectors for the younger generation. “Economic independence and the mental resilience of the younger generation start from strength within the family. Therefore, Srikandi Jaga Desa must dare to take the leadership stage, drive the economic wheels through MSMEs, and become a protective shield for our children. Economically empowered women will automatically have a louder voice in determining the future of their village,” Sherly stated. Through this first National Conference, Srikandi Jaga Desa affirmed its commitment to building a network of empowered village women capable of strengthening social resilience, driving the local economy, and supporting transparent and participatory village governance.