Berau Regency Trains 14 Villages in Kelay District Prepare 2026 Village Budget (APBK) to Strengthen Governance

The Berau Regency Government (Pemkab Berau), through the Community and Village Empowerment Office (DPMK), collaborated with Yayasan Konservasi Alam Nusantara (YKAN) to train officials from 14 villages in Kelay District. The training, held from November 18 to 20 in Tanjung Redeb, was conducted through the 6th SIGAP Village Academy (AKS) Learning Class. The purpose of the training was to draft the 2026 Village Revenue and Expenditure Budget (APBK).

This training is part of the SIGAP Sejahtera Program, which has been implemented by the Berau Regency Government and YKAN since 2021. The program focuses on three main sectors: village governance, natural resource management, and strengthening local economic institutions. In its implementation, YKAN partners with the Village Innovation Studio Foundation (YSID) to help enhance the capacity of village officials—covering basic knowledge, policy comprehension, and technical skills in managing village authority and assets.

Head of DPMK Berau, Tenteram Rahayu, explained that the training program aims to enhance village governance. She highlighted the crucial role of village officials in the success of development programs. Additionally, effectiveness and efficiency are vital in drafting Village Development Plans, especially given the reduced Regional Transfer Funds (TKD). This ensures that development, services, and community welfare improvements continue to be effectively implemented.

“Many programs can be brought to villages. However, without proper readiness from the village government, program implementation will stall. Therefore, strengthening official capacity is key. Through this training, we hope that village officials will be able to draft APBKs based on priority scales, meet community needs optimally, and apply efficient, effective, and accountable budget discipline,” she explained.

Tenteram further noted that among the 14 villages in Kelay District, six are classified as Developing Villages (Kampung Maju) and eight as Growing Villages (Kampung Berkembang), with none yet reaching the status of Independent Village (Kampung Mandiri). Kelay District itself is still classified as developing, requiring support from all parties to improve village status through empowerment programs and fulfillment of basic facilities.

Participants of the training came from the villages of Merasa, Muara Lesan, Sido Bangen, Long Beliu, Merapun, Merabu, Mapulu, Panaan, Long Duhung, Long Keluh, Long Lamcin, Long Pelay, and Long Sului. “This activity is expected not only to teach the technical aspects of APBK preparation but also to ensure that village budgets truly target and address the real needs of the community,” Tenteram added.

Gunawan Wibisono, Senior Specialist for Policy and External Affairs at YKAN, explained that changes in central-to-regional budget transfers can also affect villages. He firmly believes that villages can tap into their potential and manage natural resources wisely to ensure long-term economic independence. "Going forward, villages must activate their internal potential and rely on their own resources, not just on central funds. Village Original Revenue (PAK) must be strengthened, for example, through sustainable management of local resources like rattan," Gunawan said.

In addition to DPMK Berau and YKAN, the activity also involved P3MD, Kelay District, and YSID as the training organizer. This collaborative model is considered crucial to address the increasingly complex capacity needs of village officials. With the successful implementation of this training, the government and its partners hope that villages in Kelay District will be able to draft APBKs that are more accountable, responsive, and oriented toward inclusive development.