📈👩 Empowering women, Growing businesses: Bappenas-UNDP-Temasek team up to improve young entrepreneurs
The partnership will provide mentorship, entrepreneurship training, and financing support to help women-led MSMEs grow, create jobs, and drive inclusive economic development across Indonesia
🎯 The Main Takeaway
Makan pagi dengan ketan. Minum kopi di teras depan.
(Breakfast with sticky rice. Coffee on the front porch.)
Hari ini YUMEE dan ESDF kita resmikan. Demi perempuan raih harapan.
(Today, we’re launching YUMEE and ESDF to help women achieve their dreams.)
Yup, the message behind this ‘pantun’ is simple: young women entrepreneurs have the potential to thrive when given the right skills, support, and opportunities.
Recognizing this potential, the Ministry of National Development Planning, together with UNDP Indonesia and Temasek Foundation, launched the Youth Ultra-Micro Entrepreneurs Empowerment (YUMEE) and Entrepreneurial Skills Development Fund (ESDF) programs in Jakarta on Thursday (6/11) in Jakarta.
The two initiatives reflect a shared commitment to helping entrepreneurs—particularly women-led and ultra-micro businesses—build stronger skills, access financing, and reach wider markets, paving the way for business growth, job creation, and more inclusive economic development across Indonesia.
📡 Why It’s on Our Radar
Indonesia has a young and growing population, with nearly 64 million people aged 16–30, representing about 20% of the country’s population.
At the same time, more than 65 million MSMEs, including ultra-micro sectors that drive the Indonesian economy, account for 97% of jobs and around 60% of GDP.
Women lead approximately 65% of these businesses, highlighting the importance of supporting women and youth entrepreneurs to strengthen economic growth and create new opportunities.
⚠️ However...
Many young women who run MSMEs, especially in rural and underdeveloped areas, face significant barriers to growing their businesses, including:
🛠️ Skill development: Limited access to training, mentorship, and business development opportunities, often caused by financial constraints and insufficient funding.
🛒 Market access: Difficulty reaching larger markets and expanding their customer base.
💰 Formal financing: Limited access to loans, credit, and other formal financial services needed to start or expand a business.
📚Financial literacy: Limited knowledge of financial management, budgeting, and investment planning.
Another major barrier is motivation. Many young people hesitate to pursue entrepreneurship due to a lack of confidence and the absence of mentors who can help them navigate the challenges of starting and growing a business.
“Many young people, including women, want to start a business, but they do not know what to do or where to begin. We offer training opportunities for those who want to work or become entrepreneurs, and help them define their future goals. We then show them the pathway to achieve those goals. Through mentorship and facilitation, we help them build the skills and confidence needed to succeed.” - Maliki, Deputy for Community Empowerment, Population, and Employment at the Ministry of National Development Planning.
💡 To Solve the Problem…
The Indonesian government, through the Ministry of National Development Planning (Bappenas), has launched two empowerment programs: YUMEE and ESDF.
👩YUMEE (Youth Ultra-Micro Entrepreneurs Empowerment): Funded by Temasek Foundation, the program provides entrepreneurship training for young women who own ultra-micro businesses. It focuses on business development, digital skills, financial literacy, market access, productive grants, and intensive mentoring to help entrepreneurs grow their businesses.
💵 ESDF (Entrepreneurial Skills Development Fund): Funded through the Joint SDG Fund under the UN Joint Program. The program builds on the YUMEE initiative by providing advanced support for entrepreneurs. It focuses on innovative financing mechanisms, entrepreneurial skills development, business resilience, and sustainable business growth.
The program is initially limited to 100 participants during its one-year pilot phase and will be implemented in DKI Jakarta, Central Java, Central Kalimantan, West Sulawesi, and East Nusa Tenggara.
“Women, as you know, are a huge part of this MSME ecosystem, and what this program helps to bring to life is a whole package. It’s not just about training, a one-off training, it’s not just about a one-off access to credit, but it’s really a whole sort of a package of services that will help them to be ready to do what they’re already doing, but at a higher scale and perhaps with more efficiency and perhaps with greater impact.” - Sujala Pant, Deputy Resident Representative at UNDP Indonesia.
📑 How to Join the Program?
To join the programs, participants must meet the following criteria:
✅ YUMEE:
Young women aged 16–30 from all backgrounds and regions in Indonesia who are interested in entrepreneurship are eligible to apply, with priority given to those who already own or operate ultra-micro businesses.
Participants who meet these requirements will receive progressive entrepreneurship training, mentorship, and business development support to help prepare them for starting or growing a business.
✅ ESDF:
Participants must successfully complete the YUMEE program and obtain a certificate of completion, while demonstrating a strong commitment to entrepreneurship and growing their business.
Participants who meet these requirements will be eligible for additional financial support and capital assistance to help expand and strengthen their businesses.
🚩 The Goal…
After completing the programs, participants are expected to achieve:
🤝 Better support: Gain access to mentorship, guidance, and financial support to accelerate business growth.
🔑Better access: Expand access to markets (physical, digital, local, international), financing opportunities, and business support services such as capacity building, production, and packaging.
🧠More knowledge: Develop new skills and gain practical knowledge on business strategies, innovation, risk management, and relevant policies.
⚙️ Greater adaptability: Build the ability to respond to rapid changes in the business environment and leverage new opportunities in the digital economy.
💪More confidence: Strengthen their confidence and credibility as entrepreneurs, enabling them to navigate business challenges and pursue growth opportunities.
♻️Greater sustainability: Build resilient and sustainable businesses that can thrive over the long term, improving the well-being of entrepreneurs, their families, and their communities.
In short, the programs aim to help young women entrepreneurs gain the skills, support, and confidence needed to grow sustainable businesses, access new opportunities, and improve their livelihoods.
“We believe that investing in people is one of the most important investments any society can make. When we invest in people, we are not simply funding programs. We are expanding possibilities. Young women and entrepreneurs are truly the backbone of the economy, and we like to do our part as a catalyst to help support the growth and well-being of the local communities.” - Amrin Amin, Head of Corporate Development in Temasek Foundation.
🏡 Why This Hits Home?
Indonesia aims to create 19 million new jobs, achieve 8% economic growth, and reduce the poverty rate to 4.5% by 2029, under the National Medium-Term Development Plan (RPJMN) 2025–2029, prepared by the Ministry of National Development Planning (Bappenas).
The country is also pursuing its long-term vision of Golden Indonesia 2045 through the National Long-Term Development Plan (RPJPN) 2025–2045. The vision seeks to position Indonesia among the world’s top five economies, increase per capita income to as much as USD 30,300, and reduce the poverty rate to below 1%.
Both development plans prioritize digital transformation, economic productivity, economic innovation, and economic integration, while also promoting quality education, gender equality, and inclusive societies.
Through these efforts, the government seeks to strengthen workforce competitiveness and productivity through training and capacity building, encourage entrepreneurship, and expand job opportunities—particularly in the MSME sector—to drive sustainable and inclusive economic growth.
🌍 The Regional Stakes
According to Temasek Foundation, the program is expected to expand to other countries across Southeast Asia in the future, extending its impact beyond Indonesia and benefiting more communities across the region.
The initiative is also expected to inspire foundations, development partners, and other stakeholders in ASEAN member states to pursue similar collaborations. By scaling and replicating such programs, the region could support more entrepreneurs, create more jobs, and promote inclusive and sustainable economic growth.
📌 The Bottom Line
YUMEE and ESDF are more than just entrepreneurship programs. They are a collective effort to ensure that young women entrepreneurs continue to believe in their potential, pursue progress, and turn their talents into opportunities—regardless of the challenges they face.
The programs embody the spirit of Tidak Kehabisan Akal—the ability to find opportunities amid limitations, transform obstacles into possibilities, and remain resourceful in times of uncertainty.
At the same time, they uphold the value of gotong royong, fostering partnership, trust, and a shared belief that success is achieved together.
Indah nian kain sutera. Dipakai elok di hari raya.
(Silk fabric is truly beautiful. It looks lovely when worn on festive occasions.)
Mari bermitra saling bekerja. Demi wirausaha pemuda tangguh dan berjaya.
(Let’s partner up and work together to foster resilient and successful young entrepreneurs.)
🔍 Need More Angles?
Kementrian Keuangan Mendorong Pertumbuhan Ekonomi lewat KUR dan Insentif UMKM
Kementrian Perencanaan Pembangunan Nasional Indonesia Emas 2045, Rencana Pembangunan Jangka Panjang Nasional Tahun 2025 - 2045
Kementrian Perencanaan Pembangunan Nasional Ringkasan Rencana Pembangunan Jangka Menengah Nasional Tahun 2025 - 2029
Kementrian Pemuda dan Olahraga Laporan Indeks Pembangunan Pemuda 2025
Statistics Indonesia Unemployment Rate by Age Group, 2025
(NGO/QOB)