I will save that for later. Instead, I have decided to focus on something that is apparently less controversial but could help Indonesia transition toward its goal, of becoming a middle-income nation not just for few, but for the vast majority of its people, including persons with disabilities, indigenous groups and any other vulnerable citizens.

It is not about foreign investments, though these are certainly important if they are made in the right away: creating a greener economy instead of polluting, enabling new jobs that offer stability, safety and are able to propel workers toward social mobility, the indispensable factor that, despite being too often neglected, is key to ensuring a vibrant, dynamic and fair society.

I have written about this issue several times in the past. It’s what I call the “big V”, for volunteerism.

These days, I have been reading about the incredible role volunteers are playing in tidying up the havoc caused by the floods in Germany, where the North Rhine-Westphalia region was heavily battered by incessant rain. Volunteers there, even football ultras of local teams, got into action to help with the rescue and cleaning efforts.

As Indonesia battles its hardest and most lethal COVID-19 wave, international news reported about volunteer undertakers who stepped up to deal with the high number of deaths caused by the virus.

As often happens, volunteers are celebrated in moments of the greatest need but once the emergency is over, they go back into the shadows.

To change this, my proposition is for the “big V” to finally be recognized as one of the greatest transformational assets that an emerging and ambitious nation like Indonesia possesses, and in such a way that it can be put at the center of national and local policymaking.

There is some good news here.

The country is not exactly starting from scratch if we think that big strides have been made to create an agenda that localizes the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the goals agreed back in 2015 with the aim of ensuring sustainable and just prosperity, globally.

While there is always a gap from words to deeds and from central planning to action on the ground, something policymakers and practitioners should always aim to bridge, Indonesia is really a “rock star” in this area, a real trailblazer from the point of policymaking.

As we know, the road ahead is still steep and very bumpy, but at least the country has a strong framework in place.

The country is working out its second National Action Plan (RAN) and it also has 29 Subnational Action Plans, all part of the so-called process of localizing the SDGs that, in the most optimistic scenario, means not only setting local goals for local politicians but also involving and engaging citizens in related decision-making.

How is the “big V” related to all this? Well, volunteerism is not just an engine of civic engagement, the glue that brings people together, but it can also a catalyst for local development.

With so many cities around the world marching on in their quest to localize the SDGs, involving local citizens as volunteers is one of the most consequential elements to generate interest in the common good.

The third Voluntary National Review (VNR), which Indonesia recently presented at the United Nations, made a big step forward in recognizing the contributions of local volunteers.

This is a welcome step and an improvement from the previous report, but much more can be done at the policy level to ensure that volunteerism becomes the easiest and most fun way for the people to get interested in the SDGs.

Despite some practitioners and activists who might be hesitant about the idea of having a strong national policy on volunteering, if we want volunteerism to assume a central role in local development, then we need a national master plan, a national strategy that sets standards and creates and enables a framework for non-state actors to continue their excellent work in the field.

Such a policy could create the foundation for a stronger national volunteering “infrastructure”: the supporting policies, rules and institutions that make it easy for citizens to volunteer.

One important aspect is that Indonesia already has 23 SDGs centers at universities across the nation.

These institutions can be a real game changer in turning students into SDGs activists, and the “big V” is the best way to channel their interest, enthusiasm and inventiveness for the common good.

How can we ensure that, in the next VNR report, Indonesia records hundreds of these centers, not only at universities but also across the entire education system starting from kindergarten?

These institutions should work, by default, as centers that promote volunteerism and help prepare students for meaningful, impactful and, no less importantly, enjoyable service experiences.

Local not-for-profits could be part of the equation and help learning institutions deliver transformative programs through volunteerism.

In addition, the regional centers of expertise (RCE) that focus on sustainable education should lead these efforts. This should not be too difficult, because behind each RCE is one university.

The good thing is that many universities are embedding the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the blueprint from which the SDGs derive, into their core curricula, and the idea of nominating SDGs champions among students is not just promising, but also stellar.

After all, talking about promoting and spreading the SDGs through volunteerism can lead to unlimited opportunities.

Can Indonesia make an even stronger bet on these initiatives?

With the country preparing to chair the Group of 20 in 2022, surely putting the SDGs and the “big V” at the center of its official program next year could offer a remarkable shift from the usual thinking that characterizes and shapes these types of international coalitions.

In doing so, I have no doubt that Indonesia would win a lot of sympathy and concrete support from the international community.

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The author is founder of ENGAGE, who writes on social inclusion, youth development, regional integration and the SDGs in the Asia-Pacific context.