With the rise of increased government regulations to support more sustainable commodity-sourcing and advance the Sustainable Development Goals, a number of regencies and provinces in Indonesia have taken steps to embrace sustainable and low-carbon development plans. For the past three years, Conservation Strategy Fund (CSF) has been supporting the government and stakeholders of the Sintang Regency by designing and implementing a Green Regency plan that includes sustainable land-use practices and better governance. CSF is contributing expertise in economics, sustainable development, and strategic planning while working closely with the local government and local civil society organizations (CSOs).
CSF and the Sintang Regency launched Phase 2 of this Initiative in October of 2019. CSF is providing technical assistance to the government and facilitating the development of several key policy documents, including:
- An integrated Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA)
- An integrated Medium-Term Regional Development Plan (Rencana Pembangunan Jangka Menengah Daerah or RPJMD) for 2021-2026
- A revision of a Spatial Plan and its zonation regulations
- A best-practices document for human resources in key government institutions and its partner organizations, specifically promoting the role and capacity of the Sintang Lestari Working Group.
Through this process, the government of Sintang will now have the opportunity to advance sustainable development in the region and capitalize on the existing relationships between key stakeholders for future initiatives. This project will also serve as a model for other regencies aiming to achieve the lasting impacts of green growth.
In 2020 and 2021, CSF continued its ongoing collaboration with the Sintang Regional Government for the Green Sintang Action Plan by providing critical guidance and support, including:
- In July 2020, the CSF Indonesia team held its first webinar, focusing on capacity building and Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) for the Regional Development Plan (RPJMD). The webinar was hosted via Zoom and YouTube Livestream and was attended by more than 100 people from both the government and non-governmental institutions.
- In August 2020, the CSF Indonesia team hosted its first-ever virtual course in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. As a part of the working agreement between CSF and the Sintang Government, the course focused on educating government stakeholders and non-governmental institutions on SEA for the Regional Development Plan.
- In December 2020, the CSF Indonesia team coordinated with the Sintang government and hosted a webinar and a three-day workshop on the Green Regional Gross Domestic Bruto (PDRB) and Natural Resources Capital towards Green Sintang 2030. The workshop focused on educating government officials and local CSOs on the technical knowledge of calculating and regulating Sintang’s PDRB and Natural Resources Capital.
- In June 2021, the CSF Indonesia team, the Sintang government, and local CSOs held a discussion to review Sintang’s Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) for the Medium-Term Regional Development Plan (RPJMD).
- In July 2021, the CSF Indonesia team hosted a series of virtual workshops for the Sintang government, local CSOs, and representatives from local universities. The workshop focused on the joint review of Sintang’s Medium-Term Regional Development Planning, which will be central to their vision of a Green Regency by 2030.
Phase 1 of the project (2018-2019) included:
- A two-day stakeholder dialogue for 80 people from academia, government agencies, CSOs, and the community that focused on implementing green development and preparation for background studies, held in May 2018;
- Background studies on 1) the history and culture of Sintang, 2) natural resources and ecosystems, 3) economic development, and 4) land-based economy, land governance, social forestry, and agrarian reform;
- A four-day training on Sustainable Development and Integrated Landscape Policy, held in July 2018;
- A five-day scenario planning workshop for sustainable landscape development in Sintang held in October 2018. The workshop included 60 participants from government, civil society, business groups, non-governmental organizations, and Indigenous community leaders. CSF also trained 15 facilitators to assist with this training;
- Two trainings on sustainable landscape modeling in January of 2019 and in February of 2019; and
- A consolidation workshop in April 2019.
This work is funded by The David and Lucile Packard Foundation.
Photo: Mount Kelam, Sintang Regency, West Kalimantan
Photo credit: Nizar Kauzar