The Prakarsa

What The Prakarsa does

The Prakarsa is a civil society-based policy research and advocacy think tank headquartered in South Jakarta, Indonesia, founded in 2004 with an 11-50 employee headcount. The organization produces evidence-based research, policy analysis, and training focused on fiscal policy, social policy, and sustainable development, targeting government ministries, parliament, civil society organizations, universities, international organizations, and development donors in Indonesia and the wider Southeast Asia region.

Its core outputs are knowledge products rather than technology products. The portfolio spans publications (books, research reports, policy briefs, working papers, white papers, policy reviews), a proprietary Multidimensional Poverty Index (IKM 2012-2021), an annual Bank Ranking Report on sustainable financing, a podcast series (Podcast PRAKARSA), infographics and videographics, and documentary films on social welfare, labor, and environmental justice topics. Dissemination occurs through theprakarsa.org, social media (Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn), an email newsletter, media citations, and direct policy dialogues and stakeholder events.

The revenue model is grant and donation-based rather than commercial. Funding flows from development donor agencies (Ford Foundation BUILD project referenced), international organizations (ILO Indonesia), and Indonesian government partners (Kemnaker MoU, Bappenas recognition), supplemented by the recently obtained NGOsource Equivalent Determination (June 2025) which enables tax-deductible US-based contributions. Pricing is not publicly disclosed, and there is no commercial product line or licensing model. The organization coordinates multi-stakeholder engagement platforms such as the Civil 20 (C20) under G20, the ResponsiBank coalition, Tax and Fiscal Justice Asia (TAFJA), and the Global Alliance for Tax Justice (GATJ), positioning itself as a connective node across civil society, government, and international policy networks.

Name

The Prakarsa

Legal name

The PRAKARSA

Website

https://theprakarsa.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2004

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Prakarsa is an Indonesia-based civil society think tank that conducts evidence-based policy research and advocacy on fiscal policy, social welfare, and sustainable development for government, parliament, civil society, and international partners.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Policy Research and Advocacy

NAICS

Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities (541720), Marketing Research and Public Opinion Polling (54191)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Think Tanks, Policy Research & Public Policy Institutes (BPAGAFAO)

akta.pro secondary industries

Education Policy Research Institutes & Think Tanks (EDADADAA), Public Affairs & Government Relations (MPAAADAE)

Keywords

• Policy research
• Fiscal policy analysis
• Social policy advocacy
• Sustainable development research
• Civil society think tank

Headquarters

HQ city

Jakarta

HQ country

Indonesia

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Research and Advocacy Services: As a civil society-based think tank, The PRAKARSA generates revenue through research grants, policy consulting engagements, and advocacy partnerships with governments, international organizations, and development agencies.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The Prakarsa is an Indonesia-based civil society think tank that conducts policy research, policy analysis, and training on fiscal policy, social policy, and sustainable development. It delivers knowledge products including research reports, policy briefs, working papers, books, podcasts, infographics, and documentary films, and engages in advocacy and stakeholder coalitions to drive evidence-based policymaking.

Product overview

The Prakarsa is a civil society-based think tank that functions as a unified policy research and advocacy service rather than a platform-plus-modules architecture. Its core offerings center on research publications (policy briefs, working papers, books, research reports), proprietary indices (particularly the Multidimensional Poverty Index covering 2012-2021), multimedia content (podcasts, documentaries, infographics), and capacity building programs (training and workshops). The organization does not operate as a technology product company but as a knowledge-production institution focusing on fiscal policy, social policy, and sustainable development, producing evidence-based policy recommendations for government, parliament, and civil society stakeholders.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Publikasi (Publications)

Quantifiable outcome

• Award from Ministry of National Development Planning/Bappenas (November 2021) for contribution to Sustainable Development Goals implementation
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Koalisi Responsibank Indonesia (ResponsiBank Coalition)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-founded by Ah Maftuchan, ResponsiBank is a coalition of civil society organizations and consumer organizations working for promotion, research, and advocacy of sustainable finance policies for banking and non-bank financial institutions. The PRAKARSA leads this coalition as a key initiative.
• LPPSP UI (Lembaga Penelitian dan Pengabdian kepada Masyarakat Sekolah Tinggi Ekonomi), Universitas Indonesia)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMoU signed for continued collaboration in research and training. Joint efforts to strengthen policy research capacity and knowledge sharing between academic and civil society sectors.
• Kemnaker (Kementerian Ketenagakerjaan RI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMoU signed for Policy Partner Program (Program Mitra Kebijakan) to strengthen labor research. Collaboration to support evidence-based labor policy development in Indonesia.
• TAFJA (Tax and Fiscal Justice Asia)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-coordinated by Ah Maftuchan since 2019, TAFJA is an Asian-level civil society network conducting campaigns, research, and policy advocacy on fiscal transparency and tax justice.
• Global Alliance for Tax Justice (GATJ)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAh Maftuchan serves on the Coordinating Committee since 2019. GATJ is a global organization working on progressive tax justice campaigns and advocacy for redistributive public service funding.
• Fair Finance InternationalminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational network working on sustainable finance and responsible banking. The PRAKARSA is part of the network advocating for banking sector accountability.
• Fair Finance AsiaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional network of Fair Finance Guide focusing on Asia. The PRAKARSA participates in regional advocacy for sustainable finance policies.
• Civil 20 Indonesia (C20)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOfficial G20 Engagement Group representing civil society. The PRAKARSA coordinated C20 under Indonesia's G20 presidency in 2022, advocating for evidence-based policy recommendations on social-economic issues.
• BRICS Civil CouncilminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe PRAKARSA is a member, contributing to discussions on trade diversification and alternative financing access for Indonesia within the BRICS alliance.
• NGOsourceminorOthersUS-based organization that issued Equivalent Determination certificate recognizing The PRAKARSA as equivalent to US public charity status in June 2025.
• International Labour Organization (ILO) IndonesiacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on social protection research, including joint podcast episodes on labor protection, pension systems, and social security for Indonesian workers.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• SMERU Research Institute: Indonesian policy research institute focused on social and economic policy with similar civil society positioning, government engagement, and grant-funded research model. Both produce rigorous evidence-based research on welfare issues for Indonesian policymakers.
• Tax Justice Network: Global network advocating for tax and fiscal justice; Ah Maftuchan of The Prakarsa sits on the Global Alliance for Tax Justice coordinating committee that aligns with this network. Directly comparable mission and coalition-based operating model.
• Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) Indonesia: Established Indonesian policy think tank covering economic, social, and international affairs with similar government advisory positioning and publication-based dissemination model.
• Kemitraan Partnership for Governance Reform: Indonesian civil society organization focused on governance reform, anti-corruption, and civil society capacity building. Directly comparable non-profit model, multi-stakeholder engagement, and policy advocacy positioning.
• PATTIRO: Indonesian civil society foundation focused on local governance, public service delivery, and accountability policy reform. Similar non-profit Perkumpulan structure, community-led engagement, and evidence-based advocacy methodology.
• LPEM FEB UI (Institute for Economic and Social Research, University of Indonesia): University of Indonesia's economic and social policy research unit, and a direct MoU partner of The Prakarsa. Operates in the same fiscal and social policy research space with comparable academic rigor and government linkages.
• Center for Indonesian Policy Studies (CIPS): Indonesian think tank producing evidence-based policy recommendations on economic openness, agriculture, and education. Comparable civil society structure, English-language policy brief output, and government advisory orientation.

Broad incumbents

• World Resources Institute (WRI) Indonesia: International sustainable development research institute with a major Indonesia country office, operating in overlapping climate, energy transition, and sustainable finance spaces but with much larger global resources and broader remit.
• Oxfam Indonesia: Large international NGO with Indonesia country office working on inequality, social welfare, and economic justice policy. Overlaps with The Prakarsa on social policy and labor advocacy but at significantly greater scale and global footprint.

Regional players

• IDEAS (Institute for Democracy and Economic Affairs) Malaysia: Malaysian civil society think tank focused on economic and governance policy reform. Operates a comparable think tank model in a neighboring Southeast Asian market with similar policy brief and advocacy orientation.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/theprakarsa
• Xx.com/theprakarsa
• Facebookfacebook.com/ThePRAKARSA
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/theprakarsa

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about The Prakarsa