SurveyMETER and BAPPEDA of the Rembang district conducted a Focus Group Discussion (FGD) on the Preparation of Evidence-Based Policy Studies. It was carried out in the meeting room on the 2nd-floor of the Bappeda office of the Rembang district on November 22, 2016. The FGD aims to elicit a common view on evidence-based policies of every stakeholder throughout the government work unit (SKPD) of the Rembang district. This FGD is the first stage of the “Facilitation for the Preparation of Evidence-Based Policy Instruments in the Rembang District” under the collaboration of SurveyMETER and BAPPEDA of the Rembang district. The implementation of this FGD followed up on the results of the previous meeting between SurveyMETER and BAPPEDA of Rembang Regency on November 17, 2016.

The FGD involved 32 officials in charge of planning in SKPD (Department, Agency, Section Office) throughout the Rembang district, including Disdukcapil, Dishubkominfo, Dinbudpar, Dindagkop, BPBD, Legal Department Secretariat, Inspectorate, BKD, DPPKAD, DPRD Set, Kesbangpol, General Section Secretariat, Satpol PP, Dintanhut, Public Relations, Welfare, KPPT, Financial Administration Section, Economic Section Secretariat, DESDM, BLH, Regional Secretariat Organization Section, Regency Government Administration Section.

The series of FGD events commenced with the Opening and Introduction to the Secretary of BAPPEDA of the Rembang district, Drs. Drupodo, MM. Roni Hermoko S.E. then interspersed to deliver with the SurveyMETER Profile Introduction session. Subsequently, Dani Alfah, MPA, guided the discussion and presentation session. He began it by dividing the participants into seven groups across SKPD representatives.

Dani got to know the participants and sparked a discussion through four basic questions: What are the Five Important Data Used by your SKPD in Formulating SKPD Programs/Activities; Whether the data are already available and meet the needs; What are the problems or challenges in the data that you have seen so far; and what are your plans regarding the data owned by the current SKPD for the future.

The four questions were designed to provoke dialogue and opinions from participants as well as to identify a general picture of data and information within the Rembang SKPD. In order to be free to answer, each group is invited to write the answers to the four questions on four sheets of different colored manila papers. The answer to the first question is written on pink manila paper, the second is on yellow, the third is on red, and the fourth is on the green.

The discussion session was running smoothly and was fun. Generally, the answers and problems expressed by the participants were almost similar. Dani asked for feedback from the participants regarding the four themes (questions). One participant from the agriculture office said the data needed was known in his SKPD, but it was difficult to obtain in the field. Also not met the quality and others. The mainstay of field data collectors is agriculture and animal husbandry experts. The data collected is still very general and not spatial. Another participant from the Department of Tourism and Sports conveyed the problem that detailed data on hotels differed between police and service data because of tax evasion.

Later Dani reviewed all the problems that were revealed by the participants from the four questions. In accordance with Dani, the participants' answers are evidence of the different sectoral desires of each SKPD, so it can be concluded that, first, the data specifications desired by SKPDs vary according to their main tasks and functions. Second, almost everything that is owned exists and is available but still has many problems. Third, the main problem with centralized data is good human resources issues. It is whether they are highly educated, understand data problems, have no mutation, or if mutated there is a transfer of knowledge, and so on. Fourth, the need for data and information is adjusted to the needs of each SKPD (answering the third question).

Afterward, Dani reviewed all the problems that were revealed by the participants from the four questions. In accordance with Dani, the participants' answers are evidence of the different sectoral desires of each SKPD, so it can be concluded that, first, the data specifications desired by SKPDs vary according to their main tasks and functions. Second, almost everything that is owned exists and is available but still has many problems. Third, the main problem with centralized data is good human resources issues. It is whether they are highly educated, understand data problems, have no mutation, or if mutated there is a transfer of knowledge, and so on. Fourth, the need for data and information is adjusted to the needs of each SKPD (answering the third question).

Concurrently, the data issues for policy-making studies in the regions also rely on the followings: human resources, data quality, infrastructure, instruments, data processing, data coverage/data availability, data updating, cross-sector consolidation, and budgets.

However, several regions responded to the issues by increasing the capacity of human resources for data collectors and data analysts, specifically in consolidating across SKPD, communicating and coordinating with BPS, and also utilizing data entry software.

Among the challenges that Rembang will have to deal with if the SKPD participants initiate the integrated (one) data are first, the active role of the region in providing data through an integrated system and one data, second, cooperation and data consolidation with BPS, and third, is utilizing data from other sources (University, NGO, Community).

All of the FGD participants resolved this issue and took future steps facilitated by SurveyMETER. After this meeting, SurveyMETER re-identified and found conformity with regional programs/SKPD. Furthermore, SurveyMETER prepared a draft data instrument to send in early December. The basis for inducing the instrument is the problem that the SKPD revealed in this meeting. The draft instrument is general in nature and contains mandatory and optional questions for SKPD. Having sent the draft instrument, each SKPD submits a maximum of 3 working days. Inputs are made, for example, what is reduced and what is added according to the needs of the SKPD. At the next meeting, there would be dissemination for final input from the SKPD on the draft instrument.

The series of activities objectives is to generate a "Road Map for the Preparation of Evidence-Based Policy Instruments for the District of Rembang" at the end of the 2016 fiscal year and to achieve the target of "one data" for the Rembang district in the next five years.

The Head of the Planning Sub-division of BAPPEDA, Harry Massahir, prepared the activity timeline. He assured to provide a note to the responsible SKPD's person in charge (representative) for no mutation, but if it happened, knowledge transfer would be available to the successors. (JF)