The Penta-Helix Approach: Yogyakarta’s Sanitation Partnership for Sustainable Sanitation

YOGYAKARTA, Indonesia — Good sanitation is essential for regional development, affecting public health, productivity, economic growth and competitiveness, according to GKR Mangkubumi, chairwoman of the Yogyakarta Special Region (DIY) Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Cities with effective sanitation attract investment, boost tourism and improve residents’ quality of life, she said. Sustainable sanitation development, she added, requires collaboration among government, the private sector, academia and international partners.

 

 

GKR Mangkubumi made her remarks at a Jan. 31 discussion titled “Mainstreaming Sanitation Development: The Role of Private Stakeholders in Yogyakarta,” held at Senior High School 1 Teladan Yogyakarta. The event was organized by the Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the DIY government, the Pijar Foundation, the Tahir Foundation, the Gates Foundation, the Asian Institute of Technology – Global Water & Sanitation Center (AIT-GWSC) Thailand, and the school. Participants included representatives from those organizations, academics from Gadjah Mada University, the newly elected deputy mayor of Yogyakarta and students.

 

 

Professor Thammarat Kootattep of AIT highlighted urbanization and economic growth as key factors influencing urban sanitation challenges, emphasizing that quality sanitation promotes healthier and more sustainable cities. The discussion emphasized that providing good sanitation is a shared responsibility, requiring active participation from businesses, universities, communities and the media. This “penta-helix” collaboration, as it was described, is essential for sustainable sanitation.

 

 

The private sector can contribute through corporate social responsibility programs, and sanitation innovations can be implemented by replicating successful technologies, participants said. Five smart sanitation projects have been completed in Yogyakarta: at Senior High School 1 Yogyakarta, Rusunawa Bener (a low-cost apartment complex), the Provincial Office of the Environment and Forestry (DLHK), Taman Pintar Yogyakarta (a science park) and Teras Malioboro (a commercial area). These projects serve as models for other regions, demonstrating how collaboration can improve sanitation quality.