YCAB Foundation Launches ANDAL Programme for Digital Inclusion

YCAB Foundation officially launched the Young People for Digital Work and Entrepreneurship Inclusive (ANDAL) programme on Monday, 26 May 2025, at Manhattan Hotel, Jakarta. This strategic initiative is fully supported by the Citi Foundation through its Global Innovation Challenge 2025 grant, aiming to strengthen workforce readiness and expand digital economic opportunities for Indonesian youth, particularly women and persons with disabilities. The ANDAL programme responds to Indonesia’s labour market challenges. According to 2024 data from the Central Statistics Agency (BPS), approximately 9.58 million young people, or 21.46%, fall into the Not in Education, Employment, or Training (NEET) category. Conversely, the e-Conomy SEA 2025 report projects Indonesia’s digital economy to reach nearly $100 billion in 2025, a 14% increase from the previous year. Attending the launch, Indonesia’s Deputy Minister of Labour, Dr. Ir. H. Afriansyah Noor, S.T., M.Si., IPU, stressed the importance of human resource adaptability during digital transformation. ‘Young people need broader access to skills training and development to compete in an evolving job market. The government continues to promote cross-sector collaboration to create an inclusive and non-discriminatory employment ecosystem,’ he stated. The ANDAL programme is designed with a hybrid approach, featuring two main pillars: work preparation and digital entrepreneurship. Participants will receive vocational training, soft skills development, financial literacy education, and sexual harassment prevention (PSHEA) awareness. Additionally, the programme facilitates affiliate training to integrate participants into various digital platforms. The targets and scope of the ANDAL programme include: YCAB Foundation was selected as Indonesia’s only organisation among 50 global entities to receive support from Citi Foundation’s Global Innovation Challenge. Hario Widyananto, Country Head of Public Affairs at Citi Indonesia, stated that the initiative represents a continued commitment to fostering inclusive economic growth. ‘We aim to help young people access economic opportunities amid a dynamic global landscape,’ said Hario. In line with this, YCAB Foundation’s Chief Operating Officer, Linda Sukandar, expressed optimism about the programme’s long-term impact. ‘With government and strategic partner support, we hope the ANDAL programme will help young people, including vulnerable groups, better prepare for the future workforce through industry-relevant mentoring,’ Linda concluded. The launch event also featured a discussion session titled ‘Bridging the Gap: Strategic Synergy for Inclusive Digital Employment and Entrepreneurship’, highlighting the importance of collaboration between government, private sector, and civil society in building an equitable digital economy ecosystem. (Z-1)