Reinvigorating Policy and Modifying Practices: Lessons Learned from Indonesia’s South–South Cooperation during COVID-19

The COVID-19 global pandemic has severely impacted and challenged the globalized world. In the pre-pandemic era, human mobility and connectivity became the beacon toward developing cooperation, but now, countries are facing the consequences of lockdowns and other restrictions. However, this chapter argues that the global crisis still highlights the need for countries to continually expand cooperation as in the case of Indonesia. This chapter addresses critical questions: how the Indonesian government regulates and implements its South–South Cooperation (SSC) policy during the pandemic and what are the implications for future cooperation. Adjustment and alteration to Indonesia’s SSC policy cannot be avoided in response to President Joko Widodo’s policy directions. Therefore, the implementations of the development cooperation program have been modified with a new approach like the online technical cooperation training program. The challenges and opportunities for developing a coherent policy and implementing it during the COVID-19 pandemic should be acknowledged as it gives value to Indonesia’s roles in SSC. With the lessons learned from the implementation of the program, the roles of the state in extending national policy became more significant during this crisis.