Global digital conversations often overlook voices from the ground. At the Global Digital Forum 2025 (GDF) in Nizhny Novgorod, Russia, Meisha Marsella Efendi, who serves as Partnership Lead and Program Strategist at KUMPUL Impact, shared grounded insights from underserved communities across Indonesia.
She was invited by the Ministry of Digital Development of the Russian Federation in recognition of her work in community-driven innovation. Held on 5–6 June 2025, the forum brought together leaders from government, civil society, academia, and the tech industry to address challenges such as AI-driven disinformation, digital sovereignty, youth protection, and media literacy.
Why It Matters
Representing Indonesia and KUMPUL Impact, Meisha emphasized that underserved communities should not only be present in these conversations, but involved in designing the solutions.
“We often talk about inclusion in policy spaces, but true inclusion means co-creation. Communities know what they need, and we need to listen and walk together with them to advocate that” Meisha said.
She stressed that trust, access, and local relevance are essential to any digital transformation, especially for communities left behind in national and global agendas.
Reflections from the Ground
At the forum, Meisha shared how entrepreneurs, youth, and underserved communities in rural Indonesia are developing practical, context-specific solutions, despite often being overlooked by national systems and facing challenges like infrastructure gaps and limited resources.
While each country faces its own realities, similar patterns emerge worldwide: Many communities are often left behind by national or global development efforts that don’t account for their specific needs or realities.
It’s important to understand that when strategies are shaped by those closest to the issues, they become more relevant, more human, and more just. Community-led innovation is not a complementary approach; rather, it is foundational for building inclusive digital futures.
Walking With, Not Ahead
At the heart of KUMPUL Impact’s work is the belief that meaningful change doesn’t come from solutions delivered from above, but from walking alongside communities as partners. Inclusion means starting from within, where communities are not only consulted but also co-create from the beginning.
With deep roots in Indonesia’s entrepreneurship ecosystem and strong cross-sector collaborations, KUMPUL Impact connects social inclusion with economic opportunity by supporting ecosystems where equity and empowerment grow together through intentional design.
At GDF, Meisha emphasized that inclusion is not about symbolic presence but about active collaboration. Real progress begins when those most affected by digital transformation are engaged from the start, not merely as data points but as co-creators of the systems they live in.
Join us on Instagram at @kumpul_impact and see how we collaborate with communities to build inclusive innovation and drive lasting change!
