Yogyakarta Launches Jogja Digdaya Application; the first digital data innovation in Indonesia for disaster impact reporting in education.

Yogyakarta, 7 May 2025 – Yogyakarta is one of Indonesia’s regions most vulnerable to disasters. Approximately 7,000 educational institutions are situated in earthquake-prone areas, and 125 schools are in zones at risk of volcanic eruptions. Therefore, disaster risk reduction, particularly within education sector, must be prioritized through innovative and sustainable approaches.

Coinciding with National Disaster Preparedness Day and National Education Day, D.I Yogyakarta safe school secretary, Education, Youth, and Sports Agency (Disdikpora) of Yogyakarta Special Region (DIY), the Communication and Information Agency of DIY, Disaster Risk Reduction Forum, and Yayasan Plan International Indonesia (Plan Indonesia), with funding from Prudence Foundation and Prudential Indonesia through the support of Plan International Hong Kong, launched the Jogja Digdaya online application. This application is designed to serve as a digital data hub providing rapid and accurate information on the impact of disasters on educational institutions.

Sri Paduka Paku Alam X, Vice Governor of Yogyakarta Special Region, expressed his gratitude to all parties involved in the development of the Jogja Digdaya app. He hoped the application would support the strengthening of disaster-safe education implementation in the region. He also emphasized that SPAB implementation should be massive, engaging, enjoyable, and attentive to local contexts.

Meanwhile, Drs. Suhirman, M.Pd, Head of Disdikpora DIY, stated during the launch that the app symbolizes Yogyakarta’s preparedness in responding to school-based disasters. “We will begin outreach to all education units, from early childhood to senior high schools, so they can use the Jogja Digdaya app when disasters occur in schools,” he said.

This system is more than just a tool for recording and reporting. More importantly, it is part of a strategy to strengthen school resilience and ensure the continuity of education while upholding children’s rights in emergency situations.

The Jogja Digdaya app will present comprehensive impact data, including general information on disaster events, the number of affected teachers and students, damage to facilities and infrastructure (such as classrooms and educational materials), emergency needs, and response actions taken.

Collaboration to Build a Disaster-Resilient Generation

The launch of the Jogja Digdaya app is part of the SPAB Model Province Program in Yogyakarta, implemented since 2022 by Plan Indonesia, fulfilling all the key indicators of a model province for safe school. These include strengthening regulations, budgeting, forming and empowering joint secretariats, involving youth in campaigns and innovation, establishing SPAB at the school level, and monitoring and evaluation.

Dini Widiastuti, Executive Director of Plan Indonesia, stated, “Plan Indonesia appreciates the commitment and actions of the DIY Government in realizing disaster-safe educational institutions, from the formal establishment of the SPAB Joint Secretariat, the issuance of the Governor Regulation on SPAB, to the development of an implementation roadmap. Through the SPAB Model Province Program, we are committed to continuing to support the emergence of a generation of disaster-resilient children. In today’s digital era, digitalization is key to accelerating the understanding of disaster impacts and designing more efficient, targeted interventions, especially for children, who are among the most vulnerable groups.”

Nicole Ngeow, Executive Director of Prudence Foundation, stated, “This moment not only marks the official launch of the app, but also serves as a catalyst for broader collaboration to encourage its adoption across educational institutions. At Prudence Foundation, we are proud to contribute to driving innovation and ensuring schools in Indonesia are increasingly prepared to face disaster threats, including those brought about by the climate crisis, through the Safe School program.”

The development of Jogja Digdaya app began in May 2024, with full adoption targeted in 2025 across more than 8,000 educational institutions in Yogyakarta Special Region. The development process has been led by Disdikpora DIY, with support from the DIY Disaster Risk Reduction Forum (including the DIY Scout Movement [Kwarda], KYPA, and Lingkar), and the Communication and Information Agency of DIY through several stages including app mapping, system development, cross-sector coordination, trials, and finalization.