Launch of ULD BPBD for Inclusive Disaster Management

The Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) of West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) Province launched the Disability Service Unit (ULD) on 3 December 2024 in Mataram City. The establishment of the ULD at NTB Provincial BPBD marks a significant step in positioning people with disabilities as key agents of change, particularly in promoting a more inclusive disaster management system.

The launch, which coincided with the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, was attended by several notable figures, including the Director of Preparedness at the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB), Pangarso Suryotomo; Assistant III to the Regional Secretary (Setda) of NTB, Wirawan Ahmad; Secretary of NTB Provincial BPBD, Ahmad Yani; Chair of the NTB Disaster Risk Reduction Forum (FPRB), Rahmat Sabani; representatives from related regional agencies and organisations in NTB; administrators of NTB Provincial BPBD ULD; representatives of organisations of people with disabilities in NTB; and development partners in the region. With this launch, NTB becomes the fourth province in Indonesia to establish a BPBD ULD, joining Central Java, East Java, and East Nusa Tenggara.

BNPB Preparedness Director Pangarso Suryotomo emphasised the importance of ULD BPBD in ensuring all community services are accessible and friendly to people with disabilities. He stated that ULD BPBD could serve as a platform to promote disaster and climate change issues while advocating for the fulfilment of accessibility needs for people with disabilities, which are often overlooked in public facilities.

Assistant III to the Regional Secretary of NTB, Wirawan Ahmad, highlighted the provincial government’s commitment to inclusive development across all sectors, including disaster management. He pointed out that addressing the needs of people with disabilities extends beyond physical infrastructure to include access to information, which can enhance opportunities in areas such as the economy, education, health, and legal protection. “This BPBD ULD is expected to inspire all stakeholders to ensure equal access,” he said.

Participatory process

Head I of ULD BPBD NTB, Khalid, expressed pride in participating in the participatory process that led to the establishment of ULD BPBD. He noted that all stages of forming ULD BPBD NTB, from reviewing regulations and preparing policy briefs to the launch, involved representatives from organisations of people with disabilities (OPDis) in NTB. “We are grateful for the support of BPBD, the provincial government, and the SIAP SIAGA Program, which has been with us from the start,” he said.

The establishment of ULD at NTB Provincial BPBD, supported by the SIAP SIAGA Program, followed a rigorous and collaborative process. The initial step was forming the Gender, Disability, and Social Inclusion Working Group (Pokja GEDSI), comprising members from NTB Provincial BPBD and OPDis. This group reviewed disaster management policies to identify and analyse regulations at provincial and national levels related to services, protection, and participation of people with disabilities and other vulnerable groups.

Subsequent steps included preparing a summary of inclusive disaster management policies for NTB, conducting workshops to identify similar inclusive services in other regional agencies, and providing technical guidance (Bimtek) on mainstreaming inclusive disaster management. These activities led to the creation of an inclusive disaster management guide for NTB Provincial BPBD. Additionally, the alignment of the ULD activity plan with the NTB Provincial BPBD Annual Work Plan (RKT) produced a joint RKT for mainstreaming GEDSI in disaster management programs, referencing the Minimum Service Standards for Disaster Sub-Affairs (SPM SUB). These processes ensured the active involvement of people with disabilities as planners and decision-makers.

Khalid added that the issue of disability in disaster management was already addressed in NTB Provincial Regulation (Perda) No. 4 of 2019 concerning the Protection and Fulfilment of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. This regulation mandates NTB BPBD to facilitate efforts to meet the rights of persons with disabilities in disaster management. Thus, the establishment of the ULD is a major step forward, positioning persons with disabilities as central actors in driving a more inclusive disaster management system.

The NTB Provincial BPBD ULD has outlined several priority activities for 2025. These include harmonising and synchronising data collection on people with disabilities, particularly in disaster-prone areas, strengthening ULD institutions, enhancing the capacity of ULD administrators and disaster management actors, and conducting campaigns on inclusive disaster management. “This ULD will serve as a platform for communication, coordination, collaboration, and service delivery to improve inclusivity in disaster management,” Khalid said.

Secretary of NTB Provincial BPBD, Ahmad Yani, explained that the formation of ULD BPBD at the provincial level is expected to lead to the rapid establishment of similar ULDs in all districts and cities across NTB. “This includes educational initiatives, such as training people with disabilities on self-rescue steps during disasters,” he added.