Jakarta, 11 June 2026 – Indonesia’s Ministry of National Development Planning (Bappenas) and UNDP Indonesia have launched the Youth Ultra-Micro Entrepreneurs Empowerment (YUMEE) and Entrepreneurial Skills Development Fund (ESDF) programmes to strengthen business capacities and expand access to financing for young women entrepreneurs.

“YUMEE and ESDF were not created merely as pilot projects, but as innovations that connect skills and financing to the right people, at the right time, and in the right way,” said Maliki, Deputy for Community Empowerment, Population, and Employment at Bappenas, during the launch of the YUMEE and ESDF programmes at the Bappenas Tower in Jakarta.

Funded by Temasek Foundation, the YUMEE programme focuses on providing entrepreneurship training and business development support for young women entrepreneurs who own ultra-micro enterprises. Meanwhile, ESDF, implemented under the Global Accelerator on Jobs and Social Protection UN Joint Programme and funded by the Joint SDG Fund, will pilot innovative financing approaches to support entrepreneurship skills development in Indonesia.

Through these two initiatives, young women entrepreneurs are expected to receive stronger support in overcoming barriers that have long constrained the growth of their businesses, ranging from limited skills to inadequate access to support services and financing.

“YUMEE invites us to reflect on a simple question: What happens when talented individuals are given not only determination and hard work, but also the opportunity to thrive? It is not simply about helping their businesses grow, but about ensuring that young people can see hope in their future and have an equal opportunity to pursue it. A society becomes stronger when everyone believes they have a place and a chance to succeed,” said Amrin Amin, Head of Corporate Development at Temasek Foundation.

UNDP Indonesia Deputy Resident Representative Sujala Pant underscored the importance of addressing both financial and non-financial barriers, including strengthening the ecosystem that supports young women entrepreneurs.

"Too often, women entrepreneurs are expected to succeed despite barriers that make growth much harder, from limited access to finance and training to fewer professional networks and business opportunities. Through YUMEE and ESDF, we are bringing together government, financial institutions, universities, civil society, and communities to help close those gaps. When women have access to the right support at the right time, their businesses can grow, create jobs, and strengthen local economies," she said.

The programmes will be piloted over one year across five provinces—DKI Jakarta, Central Java, Central Kalimantan, West Sulawesi, and East Nusa Tenggara (NTT)—reaching young women entrepreneurs from diverse economic backgrounds and regions.

In addition to supporting the growth of participating businesses, the initiatives are expected to generate valuable lessons for future policies and programmes that strengthen women’s economic empowerment and resilience, contributing to more inclusive growth and adaptive social protection in Indonesia.