Bandung, October 31st 2022

Cordially Addressed to:

Re: : Invitation Letter HE. Nadia Burger
Ambassador Canada to Indonesia
Embassy of Canada to Indonesia
World Trade Center I
Jl. Jend. Sudirman Kav No 29-32
Jakarta

PEMERINTAH DAERAH PROVINSI JAWA BARAT

BADAN KESATUAN BANGSA DAN POLITIK
Jalan Supratman No. 44 Telepon : (022) 7206174-7205759 Faksimili : (022) 7106286
Website : bakesbangpol.jabarprov.go.id Email : bakesbangpol@jabarprov.go.id
Bandung 40121
Your Excellency,
We are pleased to inform you that our institution, Badan Kesatuan Bangsa dan Politik Jawa
Barat, will organize an international seminar titled “West Java International Forum for
Democracy: Reviving Democracy from Declining and the Future of Local Politics”. Based
on the regulation of the Governor of West Java Province Number 82 of 2016, Badan Kesatuan
Bangsa dan Politik Jawa Barat is a provincial agency in West Java, Indonesia which one of its
authorities is to advance the quality of democracy in the West Java area.
To meet the objective above and to strengthen democratic values broader, we hope to invite
you to become our speaker during the event and share your country’s experience in promoting
local democracy. Accordingly, we appreciate your presence to discuss and address the
following topics based on practices in your local government:
1. Fostering local participation in the election;
2. The accountability of local government;
3. Engaging civil society in local decision-making;
4. Local government in the digitalization era.
Honored by your kindness, we are sure that your presence will have a meaningful impact on our
understanding of the best way to advance democracy. For one reason or another, you may also
appoint your local provincial-level bureaucrat or political practitioner to become the speaker at
this event.
The event will take place at the Grand Sunshine Hotel, Soreang, West Java. It will commence
from 23 November to 24 November 2022 and will gather hundreds of hybrid participants from
various elements of society. As the event is held in hybrid format, we may also provide the
expected speaker with a Zoom application should she/he cannot come in-person. To further
detail, we have attached the event’ term of reference, rundown and confirming-attendance letter
on the next sheets. 
To enable us to make further necessary arrangements, we would appreciate receiving the
confirmation of your attendance through our email: bakesbangpol@jabarprov.go.id no later
than 10 November 2022. Should you have further inquiries, please contact our external relations
team, Ms. Kristiana at +62 81287962409, Mr. Fazari at +62 85774828026, or Ms. Mahmudah at
+62 82118912530.
Thank you very much and we look forward to having your participation.
Sincerely Yours

Dr. Drs. H. R. IIP HIDAJAT, M.Pd

Director

Copy to: 
 Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia

PEMERINTAH DAERAH PROVINSI JAWA BARAT

BADAN KESATUAN BANGSA DAN POLITIK
Jalan Supratman No. 44 Telepon : (022) 7206174-7205759 Faksimili : (022) 7106286
Website : bakesbangpol.jabarprov.go.id Email : bakesbangpol@jabarprov.go.id
Bandung 40121

TERM OF REFERENCE
WEST JAVA INTERNATIONAL FORUM FOR DEMOCRACY: REVIVING
DEMOCRACY FROM DECLINING AND THE FUTURE OF LOCAL POLITICS

A. Background

Across the world, as many prominent reports suggest, there is a new setback that we have in
common, namely the crisis of democracy. To name a few, the crisis is aroused by several
indications, such as declining rates of voter participation, community alienation from the political
process, community mistrust in politicians and democratic-political institutions, the rise of
national populism strengthening social segregation, and the abuse of social media.
Despite the issue being mostly discussed in a pessimistic way, it can also present new, exciting
positive opportunities to encounter. Sharing common problems across sub-nationalities can
uncover the pathways to a state of togetherness in a different way. It will open up a new source
of knowledge and learning process from each other perspectives. At its best, such sharing will
not only discuss the shared problems but also potential and creative solutions that benefit the
community.
Insofar, the talks of advancing democracy are indeed more frequently discussed within the
academic fields and national level politics rather than in the provincial or equivalent levels, even
though the local democracy in provincial or equivalent government is as much important as the
national ones.
To bear in mind, the local government outlines the right and ability, within certain limits of the
law, to regulate and manage a substantial share of public affairs more directly due to its smaller
socio-political scope. It holds close and direct interaction with the community. Hence, as the
forum believes that good deeds can start everywhere, it initiates to convene the discussion of
democracy at the provincial or equivalent level to uncover many practical suggestions and
advance the quality of democracy ahead.
Since the challenges of democracy are enormous, it is unlikely to address them all in a one-time
forum. However, this forum still wishes to move from problems to creative solutions by
discussing how to provide local policies that not only reflect the needs and preferences of
communities but also advance the quality of democracy itself. 
The forum's main questions are thus divided into four topics namely:
(1) how to foster local participation in the election;
(2) how to ensure the accountability of local government,
(3) how to engage civil society in local decision-making;
(4) how local government encounter digitalization era.
Against that backdrop, the invited speakers are expected to present their experience in dealing
with the above-mentioned based on respective country’ local democracy experience.
B. Objective

The main objectives of this forum

1. To gain perspectives on elevating voter turnout (participation)
2. To gain perspectives on local government accountability implementation
3. To gain perspectives in engaging public or civil society within the decision-making
process
4. To gain perspective on encountering the digitalization era
C. Date and Venue

Date : 23 –24 November 2022

Venue : Grand Sunshine Resort & Convention
Jln Raya Soreang, No. 06, Pamekaran, Kec. Soreang, Kab. Bandung,
Jawa Barat, 40912

D. Keynote Speech
The Governor of West Java Province, Mr. Ridwan Kamil.

E. Expected Speakers
1. Speaker of West Java Parliament
2. A representative from United States, Canada
3. A representative from the United Kingdom
4. A representative from Sweden, Norway, Poland
5. A representative from Australia, New Zealand
6. A representative from Japan, Republic of Korea

*Note: Since the event is held in hybrid format, as the facilitator, we may also provide the
expected speaker with a Zoom application should she/he cannot come in-person

F. Expected Participants
The number of participants is estimated at 100 participants as follows:
1. West Java provincial bureaucrats
2. Members of parliament from 27 cities/districts in West Java
3. Students from universities in West Java
4. Public through zoom application
 CONFIRMING ATTENDANCE LETTER

I, the undersigned below:

Name :
Position :
Email :
Phone :
Attendance : In-person

Virtual

Accept your invitation to be a speaker at the West Java International Forum for Democracy:
Reviving Democracy from Declining and the Future of Local Politics, which will be held on

Date : 23 – 24 November 2022

Place : Grand Sunshine Resort & Convention,
Jl. Raya Soreang No. 06, Pamekaran, Kec. Soreang,
Kabupaten Bandung, Jawa Barat, 40912

Thank you,

Sincerely,

(…………………..)
 WEST JAVA INTERNATIONAL FORUM FOR DEMOCRACY
RUNDOWN

TIME ACTIVITIES
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 15th  
15.00 onwards Arrival & Registration

17.00 - 18.00 VIP Refreshment & Coffee Break

18.30 - 20.00 Welcome Dinner

20.00 - 21.00 Speakers Briefing
 
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 16th  
07.00 – 10.00 Breakfast
09.00 – 09.45 Speakers and Committee Discussion
10.00 – 12.00 Session 1
12.00 – 13.00 Lunch Break
13.00 – 14.00 Session 2
14.00 – 14.30 Closing
14.30 – 15.30 Coffee Break before departure