PNPM-Green in West Sumatra and Bengkulu, Indonesia
Empowering communities through environmental awareness, sustainable livelihoods, and community-led natural resource management.
PNPM-Green in West Sumatra and Bengkulu, Indonesia
Introduction
PNPM-Green is a pilot-project which is designed in part to mainstream NRM and RE issues within the core operations of the national PNPM-Rural program. In Sumatra, PNPM-Green has been active since 2010 to the end of 2012. A key component of PNPM-Green is the technical assistance provided by CSO. OWT is a CSO has a GA with PSF to deliver environmental awareness raising and training activities to community and local government to assist in the design and implementation of viable ‘green sub-projects’. Our original working sites within PNPM-Green were in Sulawesi (2007 – 2012), our facilitation in Sumatra was conducted at the near end (6 months) of the PNPM-Green, aimed to facilitate sub-districts which did not receive facilitations from WCS, as the sub-districts laid beyond WCS GA with PSF. Our facilitation effectively occurred from 15 May – 31 December 2012; for the sake of completing technical assistances and facilitation (as several green sub-projects were not completed at the defined closing date) and strengthening exit strategy, then our facilitation was extended (no-cost extension) until 30 June 2013. Under TF 011930, OWT provided supports in two provinces, three districts and nine sub-districts in Sumatra; (a) Agam District, West Sumatra Province: Palembayan, Palupuh, and Malalak Sub-districts; (b) Padang Pariaman District, West Sumatra Province: Enam Lingkung, VII Koto Sungai Sarik, and Batang Gasan Sub-districts. (c) Lebong District, Bengkulu Province: Padang Bano, Lebong Utara, and Lebong Atas Sub-districts.
Achievements
a. We developed 14 types of IEC materials, ranges from training modules (25 titles), training manuals (8 titles), book (1 title), DVD film (11 titles), Posters (3 topics), Leaflets (8 titles), stickers (1 type), T-Shirts (1 model). We also published and distributed three editions of Lestari Desaku magazines. Total direct beneficiaries of the IEC are about 10,000 people. We conducted community training on the basis of ‘learning by doing’ principle. Trainings were not conducted in the class but directly doing the jobs on the field. During the course of the program in Sumatera (15 months), there were 774 male, 905 female and 150 youth have joined our environmental trainings at village and sub-district level. The level of women participation is 54 %.
b. We believed that sustainable environmental initiatives can only be achieved when enable to open new opportunities to local community livelihoods. NRM and RE initiatives will only be sustainable if they can enhance IGA or reduce household expenditure. Accordingly, we inspired and facilitated community to develop innovative green sub-projects which do not only benefit for environment but also supported site-specific sustainable green livelihoods development. We developed 11 types of demo-plots: (a) Biogas; (b) catchment area rehabilitation/tree planting; (c) village nursery; (d) organic fertilizer; (e) king oyster mushroom; (f) straw mushroom; (g) vegetative propagation; (h) plastic waste handicraft, (i) Mini laboratory of mushroom inoculants propagation, (j) Toona sureni seed source plantation; (k) Arenga piñata nursery. It is necessary to note that our demo-plots did not impact to block grant sub-project selection as our interventions were started after the uses of 2012 green block-grant were defined.
c. The main target groups of awareness rising activities were community at (sub) village level. It was conducted through: (a) FGD involving 10 – 15 KVC; (b) Installed posters at strategic sites; (c) distributed leaflet; (d) cross-visits to demo-plots; (e) film screening and interactive dialogs at sub-village level during the night using ‘My Darling’ (environmental awareness) car; (e) Working together with KVC and key development agents at village and (sub)-district level. During the course of the program, there were 1,176 male, 1,135 female and 773 youth have become direct beneficiaries of our environmental awareness program at village and sub-district level. The level of women participation is 49 %.
d. Considering the dominant of tree planting green sub-projects and the critical roles of tree planting maintenance, we put concerns on tree planting maintenances facilitation for year 2011 and 2012, they were composed of the following facilitations: (a) replanting about 2 months after planting; (b) facilitated the making of organic fertilizer (Bokashi) and its application; (c) facilitated regular (every two months) weeding and soil tillage surrounding the planted trees. Such event is organized in association with routine village voluntary working day.
Outlook
a. The expanded Roles of CSO: The roles of CSO developed from environmental training and awareness providers (as originally designed) to technical assistances and facilitation of project beneficiaries on preparation, implementation and maintenance of the green sub-projects. The last two tasks, by design, were the tasks of GF, however in most cases they were unable to tackle the jobs, due to capacity and time constrains.
b. The future roles of CSO on Green program: The most critical part of the green project is how to design site specific green activities which highly suitable with local specific needs. The ‘failure’ on defining local community needs on green activities had led to the dominance of tree planting sub-projects. In many cases, ‘planting trees seedlings’ had become ‘the easy, simple and logic reasons’ to use green block grant, while many other green activities were actually opened. Green sub-projects, in many cases have been simplified as tree planting. Green technical assistance were highly needed in this program, unfortunately many positions with ‘green’ and ‘environmental’ titles have poor capacity on green program. As a matter of fact the availability of ‘environmental specialist’ in the labour market was limited, while environment technical skill is not easily upgraded through short trainings. Given the conditions, green technical assistance may well-fit to be handled by CSOs, especially those who have a long track record on grass-root community empowerment in green activities.
c. Roles of CBOs: The ideas to involve local CSOs as the way to sustain green initiatives were frequently not confounded on the actual life. It is true that we need the strong roles of local champions/organizations to sustain green sub-projects. Are those local CSOs? Yes, if CSOs are respected by local community with proven long tract records. Many local CSOs have weak experience and ground basis. At the absence of proper local CSOs, the program can use local CBO, such as KVC, farmer group, forest farmer group, women groups etc.
d. Problems on Greening PNPM Rural: PNPM-Green as a window within PNPM-Rural is ideally well-integrated within PNPM-Rural house. The problem, PNPM-Green which aimed to support PNPM-Rural was considered as completely different program by PNPM-Rural. PNPM-Green was designed as a new program, rather than a sub-program under PNPM-Rural. PNPM-Green established their own National Management Consultant and facilitators but little efforts to synchronize their working relations, role and responsibilities among actors at centre level (Jakarta) down to grass root level. The failure to build a solid institutional arrangement at centre level had affected to the weak integration among projects actors at grass-root level.
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