SEARCA-ASRF Conducts Proposal Development Assistance Activity in Indonesia

28 April 2015

Mr. Arif Aliadi facilitated the active discussion during the 3-day writeshop in Jakarta, Indonesia.

JAKARTA, Indonesia – The ASEAN Social Forestry Network Strategic Response Fund (ASRF) conducted a Project Development Assistance (PDA) activity in Jakarta, Indonesia on 14-16 April 2015. The PDA is one of the types of grants under the ASRF that aims to assist ASEAN Member States (AMS) in coming up with project proposals that would respond to the needs of the ASEAN Social Forestry Network (ASFN) Focal Points in addressing emerging issues related to social forestry in their respective countries. The PDA is also intended to identify issues and determine priority interventions that will help address them. As recommended during the 3^rd Program Steering Committee Meeting, the PDA in Indonesia revisited the two proposals endorsed by the Indonesia ASFN Focal Point under the Second Call to ascertain how they can contribute to the objectives of addressing pressing social forestry issues in the country.

Indonesia has set a target of allocating 12.7M hectares to Social Forestry in its 2015-2019 Development Plan. The PDA generated three proposals that will help push this agenda and achieve the national target. These are:

Development of a Process to Acquire Mukim Forest Recognition: Preparatory Phase (Proponent: Rumoh Transparansi)
Capacity Needs Assessment to Improve the Performance of Forestry Extension Workers in Lampung (Proponent: Forum HKm Propinsi)
Strengthening Multistakeholders Engagement to Accelerate Social Forestry Development (Proponent: Directorate of Social Forestry Development, Ministry of Environment and Forestry)

Said proposals will be subjected to the usual review process of the ASRF.

Government and NGO representatives participated in the ASRF PDA held in Jakarta, Indonesia on 14-16 April 2015. The writeshop was attended by participants from the Directorate of Social Forestry Development of the Ministry of Environment and Forestry and two NGOs, Rumoh Transparansi and Forum HKm Propinsi. The PDA provided an opportunity to the ASRF project team to interact with the primary beneficiary of the ASRF - the ASFN Focal Point and the agency. This activity contextualizes social forestry program in the country, which has its own dynamics, strengths, and challenges. The interaction with the government, as well as the NGOs present, provided insights on their specific needs and strategic activities that can help address such needs. These insights are important in achieving the objectives of ASRF.

Also present at the PDA were Mr. Eri Indrawan of the Ministry of Environment and Forestry and Ms. Sagita Arhidani, Head of ASFN Secretariat. The PDA was facilitated by Mr. Arif Aliadi, with overall supervision by Ms. Amy M. Lecciones, ASRF Regional Coordinator. The PDA in Indonesia was the second of such activity conducted by the ASRF; the first one was held in Lao PDR in February 2015. (Amy Lecciones)