Purwakarta, 12 February 2026 — The INKLUSI Program concluded its Joint Monitoring Visit (JMV) series in West Java with a visit to Purwakarta District together with PEKKA Foundation (Pemberdayaan Perempuan Kepala Keluarga, or Women-Headed Household Empowerment), to review efforts to support the economic empowerment of women heads of household at the village level.
The visit brought together Bappenas, relevant ministries and government agencies, the Australian Embassy (DFAT), local government, and the INKLUSI Secretariat team. In Purwakarta, the delegation observed progress, lessons learned, and ongoing challenges in strengthening the economic independence of women heads of household through community organising and village-based enterprise development.
Purwakarta has a significant number of women-headed households. Since 2022, with support from the INKLUSI Program, PEKKA has expanded its organising work with women heads of household in Purwakarta to improve their independence and wellbeing based on gender equality.
Through its Paradigta Entrepreneurship Academy (AP-Kewirausahaan) strategy, PEKKA trains women heads of household to become drivers of inclusive local economic development across communities. Over the past three years, PEKKA Purwakarta has graduated 67 women community organisers who have developed 13 group enterprises and 28 individual businesses across seven villages, drawing on local economic potential.
During the field visit, the JMV delegation visited Ciherang Village Hall and the village’s weekly market, which serves as a space to market local products such as chips, opak crackers, and talang leaf tea. Held every week, the village market offers a concrete example of how women heads of household are building a community-based local economic ecosystem while also expanding market access for their products.
However, a number of challenges remain. Limited access to raw materials and business capital continues to be a major obstacle. Participants in the AP-Kewirausahaan programme identified the need for land to grow cassava and bananas as raw materials for snack production, in order to strengthen supply chains and reduce dependence on external suppliers.
Beyond economic empowerment, PEKKA also organises low-income women heads of household through the Village Women’s Forum and has pioneered an Integrated Elderly Service (LLT) since 2022. Starting in 2026, the LLT is expected to develop elderly education based on a new longevity approach to support women’s wellbeing in later life.
PEKKA also provides legal assistance to women heads of household, particularly to prevent brokerage practices and unofficial fees in divorce cases. PEKKA members regularly document their advocacy experiences, including their participation in village development planning forums (Musrenbang), as part of capacity strengthening and collective learning.
INKLUSI in Purwakarta: Government Response and Support
In dialogue with local government and ministries/agencies, Bappenas expressed appreciation for PEKKA’s strategy in advancing the economic empowerment of women heads of household. Bappenas emphasised the importance of business mentoring and encouraged closer collaboration with the Office of Cooperatives and MSMEs to address barriers related to capital, raw materials, and marketing.
The Purwakarta Office of Cooperatives and MSMEs noted that members of the Paradigta Entrepreneurship Academy have already been involved in entrepreneurship training, licensing, and product packaging support. However, production equipment, such as spinner machines, is still needed to improve product quality and production capacity.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Social Affairs, through the local Social Affairs Office, also has social assistance and empowerment programmes for women heads of household in deciles 1–5. PEKKA was encouraged to propose skills training and productive enterprise support as part of a more integrated social and economic support approach.
As a follow-up, the parties agreed to strengthen collaboration between PEKKA and the Office of Cooperatives and MSMEs to address constraints related to capital, raw materials, and marketing. The office expressed its commitment to meeting the need for spinner machines and to continuing business and licensing training. The Purwakarta Social Affairs Office will also follow up on proposals for skills training and productive enterprise assistance for women heads of household.
Findings and lessons from the Purwakarta visit will provide strategic input for improving the planning and implementation of the INKLUSI Program in Phase II. Strengthening good practices—from organising women heads of household and developing village-based enterprises to integrating support across government offices—will be key to sustaining the program’s impact.
Bappenas and DFAT expressed appreciation to all ministries and agencies, local government representatives, partners, and community members who actively contributed to the visit.
