Satish Mishra, Managing Director of Strategic Asia, presented the first discussion forum titled Poverty in Indonesia: Perceptions and Expectations. The forum discusses about the strange paradox between policy priority given to poverty alleviation in Indonesia both by the Constitution and the current government on the one hand and the confusion and delays that have surrounded both the design and implementation of poverty reduction policy on the other.

Satish recomended two options need to be done: (1) public expectations need to be gently lowered and (2) the government needs to work hard to enlarge the policy space to deal effectively with poverty in difficult places and sectors.

The forum concluded that the advance of democracy has changed government's challenge in reducing poverty. Therefore, capacity empowerment shall be applied in government sector, social justice and public participatory.