Jakarta, Oct. 30 -- Indonesia's Coordinating Ministry for Community Empowerment is promoting village-based poverty programs through partnerships with nongovernmental organizations, as rural poverty remains higher than urban poverty.

"Poverty alleviation is not just about lowering poverty rates; it must also help families improve their lives, develop their potential and become self-reliant," said Dyah Tri Kumolosari, the ministry's deputy for social welfare coordination.

In a statement issued here Friday, she cited data from Statistics Indonesia (BPS) showing that the national poverty rate declined to 8.07 percent in March 2026.

However, the rural poverty rate remained higher at 10.67 percent, compared with 6.34 percent in urban areas. ...