The Institute for Policy and Development (PolDev), under the Faculty of Social and Political Sciences (FISIPOL) at Universitas Gadjah Mada, has released the second episode of its podcast series, Unitalks. This episode addresses the timely and critical topic of Data Transparency and Proxy Data, highlighting ongoing challenges in ensuring public access to information in Indonesia.
Hosted by Rizki Dwi Lestari, a researcher at the Department of Management and Public Policy (DMKP), the episode features guest speaker Rizki Ardinanta, a researcher at PolDev and Project Advisor at Unitrend. Together, they delve into the complexities surrounding public access to government data—especially in the realm of public policy—where transparency and accessibility remain limited.
The discussion points out that despite Indonesia’s commitment to an era of open information, essential datasets such as ministry performance metrics and public officials’ wealth reports (LHKPN) are often difficult to access, fragmented, and not user-friendly. This reality underscores the need for alternative approaches, including the use of proxy data.
Proxy data, as explained in the episode, refers to alternative datasets used to map or predict phenomena when official data is unavailable or inaccessible. The podcast showcases practical examples of proxy data usage, including Google Trends for tracking social patterns and media analysis to assess public discourse dynamics. A particularly insightful example discussed is the significant discrepancy between poverty data reported by Indonesia’s Central Statistics Agency (BPS) and the World Bank—highlighting broader issues related to measurement standards and methodology.
The episode also introduces Unitrend.id, a platform developed as a monitoring dashboard using alternative data to track strategic issues such as Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), economic growth, and public policy. This initiative reflects PolDev’s ongoing commitment to enhancing data literacy and fostering evidence-based policymaking.
Through thoughtful and accessible conversation, Unitalks Episode 2 offers a fresh and critical perspective on the role of data in driving public accountability, while encouraging citizens to engage in smart, data-informed civic oversight.
🎧 Watch the full episode on the official UniTalks by Unitrend PolDev YouTube channel, and explore new insights on the future of alternative data for more inclusive and transparent policymaking.