Jakarta, INTI – All of these were the main focus of the Capacity Building webinar entitled “Unlocking (Data) Village Potential” which was held on Tuesday, June 3, 2025. In this activity, Suci Wulandari, Head of BRIN's Research Center for Social Welfare, Villages and Connectivity (PR KSDK), emphasized that Village Potential Data (Podes) has a central role in supporting data and fact-based village development planning.
Podes is a comprehensive data collection compiled by the Central Bureau of Statistics (BPS), covering important information about village life: from population, infrastructure conditions, to social aspects and local institutions. This data is considered very valuable for scientific research, policy formulation, and more targeted social interventions.
Podes for More Precise Research and Policy
In her presentation, Suci Wulandari said that Podes data is very useful for researchers, academics, and decision makers. Through this data, they can expand their studies, deepen their analysis, and develop policy recommendations that are truly in line with field conditions.
In addition, Suci also emphasized the importance of understanding the structure and content of Podes data thoroughly. This understanding is the main provision to maximize the potential of the analysis, especially when access to the field is limited. “We hope that Podes can be optimally utilized by all those who care about village development,” she said.
Understanding Podes Complexity with Data Literacy
Purnama Alamsyah, a researcher from PR KSDK BRIN, also shared his experience in using Podes as the main source in village development research. According to him, Podes data is vast and diverse, covering geographical information, disasters, social protection, and climate change impacts.
However, the main challenge of this data is its large volume and complex structure. Therefore, he encouraged the improvement of data literacy, from awareness of the importance of data, the process of collecting, analyzing, to the ethical and targeted use of data. “Data is not an end in itself, but a tool to understand reality,” he said.
The Role of AI in Podes Analysis
The development of technology also brings fresh air to the utilization of village data. Artificial intelligence (AI) can now assist researchers in designing analysis, writing code, and providing alternative perspectives on existing data. However, Purnama reminded that the results obtained from AI must still be scientifically verified so as not to deviate from the truth of the data.
Podes, which is structured data, cannot fully cover all aspects of village life. However, with the right approach and tools, Podes can be a strong foundation for cross-sectoral research, such as its relationship with stunting data, village development index, and even public opinion from social media.
In order to optimize the utilization of Podes, Purnama also explained some recommended analysis steps, namely:
- Research planning
- Exploration of data structure
- Selection of relevant variables
- Initial data processing
- Descriptive and advanced analysis
- Visualization of results
- Interpretation and validation
- Reporting and dissemination
This approach allows Podes data to be processed into strategic information that can support evidence-based policies.
Investment in Human Resources and Infrastructure, Key to Maximizing Data
Both Suci and Purnama agree that for Podes to be maximally utilized, there needs to be investment in data infrastructure and capacity building of human resources. This applies not only to research and government institutions, but also to civil society organizations.
They also emphasized that data literacy is not just about technical skills, but also about ethics, policies, and the ability to communicate data in a correct and impactful way.
Conclusion
The webinar “Unlocking (Data) Village Potential” highlighted the strategic role of Potential Village (Podes) data in evidence-based development. Podes data, compiled by BPS, provides extensive information on village conditions from demographics, infrastructure, to social and institutional aspects. Researchers from BRIN emphasized the importance of data literacy, understanding the structure of data, and using technology such as AI to accurately analyze and deliver strategic information. Maximizing the potential of Podes requires investment in data infrastructure and strengthening human resource capacity, including data ethics and communication. Podes is not just a collection of data, but a scientific foundation for more targeted and sustainable village development policies.
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