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Strengthening Women’s Role in Conservation and Local Economic Development

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CEO CARE Indonesia, Dr. Abdul Wahib Situmorang, became one of the speakers at the High-level Discussion session on Tourism Policy on Circular Economy during the 37th Joint Commission Meeting of the UN Tourism Commission for East Asia and the Pacific (CAP) and the UN Tourism Commission for South Asia (CSA) (16/4) at Hotel Mulia, Jakarta. The event was officially opened by the Minister of Tourism, Widiyanti Putri Wardhana, and was attended by members and affiliate members of UN Tourism, as well as international and regional organizations, and global tourism experts.

CARE Indonesia shared its perspective on the importance of ensuring that circular economy practices support the empowerment and resilience of local communities, including women and children, in the development of investments in Indonesia’s tourism sector. In alignment with the Government of Indonesia’s programs in 11 Special Economic Zones, CARE Indonesia collaborates and supports such efforts—one example being the Women Mangrove Warrior program supported by Traveloka. This initiative highlights a successful case of ecosystem conservation through women’s empowerment, where one of the key outcomes was the establishment of microenterprises that produce eco-print batik using natural dyes derived from mangrove trees. CARE and Traveloka believe that the active participation of local communities, especially women’s groups, is crucial to strengthening communities and ensuring the successful implementation of a sustainable circular economy.

Synergy in Accelerating Stunting Reduction in West Sumbawa: From Provision Additional Nutritious Meal to Nutrition Gardens

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The Indonesian government continues its efforts to combat stunting. According to data from the National Population and Family Planning Agency (BKKBN), as of January 2025, the stunting prevalence rate remains at 21.5 percent. BKKBN is targeting a reduction in stunting prevalence to 18 percent by 2025.

In line with this goal, efforts to reduce stunting prevalence in West Sumbawa Regency (KSB) are showing promising progress. As reported by Antaranews.com, the KSB Health Office stated that the stunting rate in KSB in 2024 stood at 7.37 percent, a decrease from 10.3 percent in 2023. Still from Antaranews.com, Acting Regent of West Sumbawa Julmansyah noted that women played a significant role in lowering stunting rates in the region. He emphasized that the DASHAT (Healthy Kitchen to Overcome Stunting) program—led by resilient women and integrated with economic empowerment, food security, and women’s entrepreneurship—was one of the key efforts in protecting women and children.

Julmansyah’s statement reflects the components of a program run by the CARE Peduli Foundation (YCP) to accelerate stunting reduction in KSB. Muhammad Ikraman, Project Manager of YCP in KSB, explained that their stunting intervention program is holistic. “This program doesn’t only focus on nutrition, but also addresses behavior change, parental education, and local food security. In general, all parents of children receiving interventions participate in parenting classes so they can assess their child’s growth and development. We also provide education to adolescents about the risks of early marriage,” said Ikraman.

Ikraman added that provision additional nutritious meal (PMT) for recovery is a main component of the stunting response. From 2023 to 2024, a total of 372 children with stunting, 47 children with wasting, and 17 children with underweight conditions received recovery PMT for 90 consecutive days per period—from December 2023 to March 2024, and again from June to September 2024. The intervention also targeted 85 pregnant women with chronic energy deficiency (CED), who received PMT for 30 days over two periods. “The results are quite significant. About 30% of the children who received recovery PMT are no longer stunted, and 87% experienced weight gain of more than 200 grams per month. Among pregnant women with CED, 70% recovered from the condition and gave birth to babies with normal birth weights,” Ikraman explained.

Interestingly, the PMT meals provided were neither instant nor expensive. On the contrary, they followed Ministry of Health guidelines and used local ingredients, making the meals easy for families to replicate at home. “The involvement of DASHAT volunteers is vital. They don’t just prepare the recovery PMT meals but also deliver them and monitor the meals consumed by the children. When delivering the food, they also educate parents on how to prepare balanced, nutritious meals using local ingredients. This local menu approach is YCP’s educational method to demonstrate that healthy food is affordable and easy to make at home,” added Ikraman.

Parental Attitude Shifts and the Role of DASHAT Volunteers

The children’s significant health improvements have had a positive psychological impact on their parents. As their awareness of nutrition and parenting grows, so does their enthusiasm. Initially, some parents were hesitant to accept the recovery PMT, believing they could provide adequate food themselves. However, through educational outreach and parenting classes, they came to understand the importance of balanced nutrition. “All parents whose children received interventions joined parenting classes. They learned about child growth and development, parenting styles, and nutritious meal planning. The learning was participatory and based on real-life cases they had experienced,” said Ikraman.

Hayatun, the mother of four-year-old Anugrah Wilka from Bukit Damai Village—who received recovery PMT—said she struggled to feed her child who has Down syndrome. “With the PMT program, it’s been much easier to feed my son. I’m really grateful. He used to have a very poor appetite, but now he always asks to eat. He couldn’t sit or stand properly before and was lethargic. Now he’s more active and can sit upright,” she said.

The 44-year-old mother also shared that she enjoys learning with the DASHAT volunteers who live nearby to make balanced meals. “Now I can make the same food provided by DASHAT. My child’s weight and height are now in line with kids his age,” she added.

Nutrition Gardens: A Community-Based Stunting Solution

To ensure the sustainability of the recovery PMT, YCP developed community-run nutrition gardens managed by Women Farmers Groups (KWT), as an innovative step in reducing stunting prevalence. These gardens were established in all YCP-assisted villages in the Sekongkang sub-district, with the garden in Talonang Baru Village standing out as a prime example.

“The nutrition garden in Talonang Baru now meets the vegetable needs for the PMT meals prepared by the local DASHAT group. Having the garden really supports PMT production because they can source fresh vegetables at lower costs. Since the village is quite remote and isolated, vegetables had to be brought in from Lunyuk Subdistrict in Sumbawa Regency, which made them expensive,” he explained.

Thanks to strong collaboration between the nutrition garden and the DASHAT group, Talonang Baru has seen a significant decrease in stunting. “According to data from the Community-Based Nutrition Recording and Reporting System (EPPBGM) managed by the West Sumbawa Health Office, stunting in Talonang Baru dropped from 15.38% in February 2023 to 6.29% in February 2025,” Ikraman said.

Active Role of Village Governments: From Budgets to Regulation

Ikraman noted that all village governments involved in the program strongly support the stunting reduction efforts. This is evidenced by the increased budget allocations for basic health services in their Village Budgets (APBDES). “In 2024, 16 villages increased their health budgets by a total of 34 percent to approximately IDR 5.5 billion, compared to 2023. Specifically for recovery PMT, the budget increased from IDR 520 million to IDR 775 million,” Ikraman explained.

Moreover, village governments also support the program through regulation, not just budgeting. One such policy is the establishment of Child- and Girl-Friendly Villages (DRPPA) through village regulations (perdes). “The goal of DRPPA is to ensure children’s care rights are fulfilled in accordance with child protection laws, so their developmental needs are met,” he added.

The collaborative efforts in West Sumbawa demonstrate that addressing stunting requires a holistic approach: from nutritional support and education to community participation and regulatory backing. “The support and joint effort of the community, village and regional governments, and YCP’s partner AMMAN Mineral have enabled the stunting reduction program in KSB to reach a wide range of participants and generate significant results and improvements,” Ikraman concluded.

Writer: Kukuh A. Tohari

Editor: Swiny Adestika

Sutilah: A Resilient Woman Driving Women’s Empowerment from Sungai Petai

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In a remote hamlet in the Musi Banyuasin District, called Sungai Petai, stands a women’s economic group, a branch of the Women’s Economic Business Group (Kelompok Usaha Ekonomi Perempuan or KUEP) of the Dawas Village’s “Persatuan Kaum Sukses”. This group has become a new beacon of hope for the women living there. Despite the lack of proper road access, limited electricity, and a modest way of life, a group of women led by Sutilah has proven that limitations are no barrier to independence and mutual empowerment.

Sutilah begins the story by explaining that KUEP Dawas opened a branch in Sungai Petai Hamlet in early 2024. The long and difficult journey for KUEP members living in Sungai Petai to travel to Dawas Village was the main reason she took the initiative to open the branch in her hamlet. According to her, the trip from Sungai Petai to Dawas can take two to three hours, or even four to five hours when it rains and turns the roads into muddy trails.

“We have 17 active and trustworthy members in KUEP Sungai Petai. From them, we’ve selected the most committed ones. Currently, only four of us are also members of the main KUEP Dawas group, because most people here don’t have vehicles or the ability to drive the long distance to Dawas,” said Sutilah, now the coordinator of the KUEP Sungai Petai branch.

Four members from Sungai Petai—including Sutilah—became official members of KUEP Dawas. They were trusted because they could drive and had the time to travel. Representing the other members of KUEP Sungai Petai, Sutilah and three others applied for a loan of IDR 20 million from the main KUEP in Dawas. According to Sutilah, the loan was used to kickstart savings and loan initiatives as well as a basic food savings scheme for the 17 members of KUEP Sungai Petai.

“We used the capital to fund productive loans for activities like cassava farming, rubber tapping, and producing traditional foods like tiwul and eyek-eyek,” she explained.

KUEP Sungai Petai is still focused on savings and loans due to geographic limitations that prevent them from starting larger businesses. Even so, the savings and loan system is well-organized. To borrow money, members must register a month in advance—except in urgent cases like medical emergencies. “Selling goods from here is difficult; they could spoil on the road. An honest and orderly savings and loan system is the backbone of our economy,” Sutilah stated.

Sutilah’s story is not just about economics—it’s also about how women can be agents of change in their communities. “We have to be creative, women have to be strong. I’m also a volunteer with the Community Fire Awareness Group (MPA) in Dawas Village, and I always share any training I receive from CARE Indonesia with the other women in our village,” she said.

Her impact goes beyond economics. Sutilah also serves as a Gender-Based Violence (GBV) advocate in her village. Using a careful and friendly social approach, she and three other advocates integrate gender education into religious gatherings, community events, and casual conversations among women. “I told the men, at my house, my husband does the cooking when I’m busy. At first, they were shocked—but eventually, they started to think about it,” she said with a small laugh. Small changes like this have a big impact. She also educates residents about safe, non-burning land clearing methods she learned from CARE Indonesia training.

Sutilah also acts as a liaison between villagers and local government. She has single-handedly fought for access to identity cards, family cards, birth certificates, and even brought the civil registration office (Disdukcapil) to Sungai Petai. Beaming with pride, she recounted being offered the position of Hamlet Head by the subdistrict chief of Keluang. “I was once offered the role of Hamlet Head for Sungai Petai, but I turned it down because I didn’t think I could carry the responsibility. It felt like too heavy a task for me,” she said humbly.

Now, KUEP Sungai Petai is becoming more self-sufficient. The Ramadan food savings scheme allows members to celebrate Eid with greater peace and comfort. The loan from KUEP Dawas has been fully repaid, and they are starting from scratch once more—but their spirit has never faded.

Despite all the limitations, Sutilah remains steadfast in her belief that change begins with small steps. From a home that doubles as a religious study space, from a yard planted with chili peppers, to prayer gatherings that become opportunities to discuss economic resilience and gender equality—she leads by example. “If we do it with the intention of worship, it all counts as a blessing,” she said with a smile.

In Sungai Petai, women aren’t just surviving. They are moving forward—slowly but surely. And at the very front of this movement stands Sutilah—a remarkable woman sowing seeds of hope from deep within the forest.

Writer: Kukuh A. Tohari
Editor: Swiny Adestika

Journalist Fellowship: Mainstreaming Mangrove Protection Initiatives and Economic Empowerment for Women’s Groups in Berakit Village

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Five journalists from various provinces in Sumatra, representing local media and national media contributors, participated in the journalist fellowship program organized by the CARE Indonesia in collaboration with The Society of Indonesian Environmental Journalists (SIEJ) from March 11-14, 2025. This program aims to disseminate the role of women in Berakit Village, Bintan District, in mangrove protection efforts and the enhancement of the local economy through the use of mangrove ecosystem products. The hope is that involving journalists in the women’s empowerment efforts in Berakit Village will inspire women across Indonesia to become more engaged in environmental conservation.

Mangrove Ecosystem Protection in North Minahasa District Through Women’s Empowerment

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CARE Indonesia, in collaboration with the Bumi Tangguh Foundation, supported by the North Sulawesi Provincial Government and funded by the Asian Venture Philanthropy Network (AVPN), launched a program for the empowerment of coastal women and mangrove restoration in North Minahasa District on March 18, 2025. The launch event was attended by approximately 70 invited guests.

A total of 50.000 mangrove seedlings will be planted in the buffer zone of the Marine Conservation Area (MCA) in Palaes Village, Sarawet Village, and Minaesa Village. Women’s empowerment, including female fishers, will be carried out through the establishment of Women’s Economic Business Groups (KUEP) to manage mangrove-based business potentials while ensuring the sustainability of the ecosystem.

Women’s Group in Berakit Village Preserves and Utilizes Mangroves

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A total of 50.000 mangrove seedlings developed by the women’s mangrove conservation group in Berakit Village are steadily growing. These seedlings, which were sown in September 2024, will be planted across an area of five hectares in the buffer zone of the marine conservation area in Berakit Village. Once the mangrove seedlings have at least four leaves, they will be ready for planting, following the 1.000 mangrove plants that were previously planted.

In addition to actively participating in mangrove conservation, the women’s group in Berakit Village has also produced batik fabric using mangrove as a natural dye. This initiative is part of a training program supported by Traveloka and the CARE Indonesia. The training on utilizing mangroves as an ecoprint fabric dye is an effort to empower the women’s economic group through the Women’s Economic Business Group (KUEP).

Berakit Village Women’s Group Creates Batik with Natural Dyes from Mangrove

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Mangroves are not only important for the environment but can also be used as natural dyes for batik. On February 17-18 and 22-23, 31 participants from various groups, such as Pokmaswas Srikandi, KUEP Melati and Tenggiri, and BBC, attended batik and ecoprint training, where they learned to process mangrove and mahogany bark waste into natural dyes.

This training raised participants’ awareness of the significant benefits of mangroves, both for the ecosystem and the local economy. In addition to enhancing their skills, the activity also encouraged the importance of preserving mangroves to support environmental sustainability and open up opportunities for sustainable businesses. This program is supported by Traveloka, CARE Peduli Foundation, and the Ecology Foundation.

Creating a Violence-Free Work Environment: Initiatives from Workers and Management in the Garment Industry

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Efforts to create a violence-free workplace and provide a safe space for women are being undertaken by PT. Dasan Pan Pacific Indonesia in Sukabumi Regency and PT. Glory Industrial Semarang Demak in Demak Regency, with full support from CARE Indonesia. From February 19-21, 45 workers and company management participated in training on the documentation system and data management of Gender-Based Violence and Sexual Violence (GBV-SV) cases, as well as handling procedures. As a result, they agreed to strengthen the process of addressing violence in the workplace.

The initiative not only involves women but also emphasizes the important role of men, particularly at PT. Dasan Pan Pacific Indonesia. A total of 28 male participants actively contributed to designing various initiatives to create a safe space for women. These initiatives include socializing the sanctions for perpetrators of violence to other colleagues and organizing events that promote togetherness, such as a cooking competition for men, as a concrete form of support for women.

Empowering Women’s Economy in Sigi District Through Strengthening KUEP

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A total of 144 women from the villages of Pesaku, Rarampadende, Ngata Baru, Pombewe, Ramba, and Wisolo in Sigi Regency are now members of the Women’s Economic Business Group (KUEP), which aims to enhance their economic independence. In this effort, CARE Indonesia is collaborating with Karsa Institute, with support from UN Women and funding from the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), to strengthen KUEP through institutional development and entrepreneurship training to support family economies.

One of the initiatives implemented is a savings-based lending system, where KUEP members can save by exchanging coins. This system has been positively received by members, who see it as an opportunity to save while also interacting with one another. Each member is committed to holding regular meetings as a time for saving as well as a space for discussions and sharing experiences. In the future, KUEP plans to develop new businesses, such as coconut oil production and the making of fruit and cassava chips, to strengthen the economic welfare of its members’ families.

Women as Drivers of Environmental Protection: Building Economic and Environmental Resilience

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Climate change has now become a real threat affecting life worldwide. The average global temperature has increased by about 1.1°C since the pre-industrial era, with the last five years recording the highest global temperatures, including 2016 and 2020, as the hottest years ever recorded by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The impacts of this change are widespread, ranging from the melting ice at the poles, which causes sea levels to rise by 3.3 mm per year, according to the IPCC report, to more frequent and intense extreme weather events such as heatwaves, floods, and droughts, which disrupt food security, increase the risks of diseases like malaria and dengue, and damage ecosystems. The destruction of tropical forests, which contribute more than 10% of global carbon emissions according to Global Forest Watch and the World Resources Institute, exacerbates the effects of climate change we are experiencing.

In Indonesia, climate change has a significant impact on women, especially in coastal and rural areas that depend on agriculture and fishing. Rising temperatures and increasingly frequent natural disasters threaten food and water security, making women more vulnerable. Additionally, women are often exposed to gender-based violence after disasters and are less involved in decision-making related to climate change, despite playing an essential role in adaptation. Gender inequality, as reported by UNDP and the World Bank, further worsens the impact of climate change on women.

Sustainable Mangrove Efforts Enhance the Economy
In the face of climate change challenges, women in Berakit Village, Bintan Regency, have demonstrated an extraordinary role in environmental preservation efforts. A group of women mangrove activists in this village is actively involved in the restoration and conservation of mangrove forests as part of a protected area. They not only engage in seedling production but also regularly monitor the mangrove saplings that have been planted. To date, more than 50,000 mangrove saplings have been successfully developed. Once at least four leaves have grown, the women plant these saplings along the village’s coastal area, following the planting of 1,000 mangrove plants done earlier. “Together with the women in Berakit Village, we have developed mangrove seedlings, some of which have already been planted. This activity is fully supported by the CARE Peduli Foundation, in collaboration with the Ecology Foundation,” said Meli, a member of the women’s mangrove conservation group in Berakit.

Meli added that she and the group members are also working to develop mangrove-based businesses as an additional family income source. Through the Melati Women’s Economic Business Group (KUEP) and the Tenggiri KUEP, they plan to manage small businesses utilizing the abundant mangrove ecosystem. One such initiative is the production of fabric with motifs resembling batik, using natural dyes derived from mangrove plants. Meli further noted that to improve the quality of the batik produced, she and other KUEP members received training in creating batik fabric with natural dyeing techniques or eco-printing. Trained by instructors from Betuah Ethnic, she, along with 19 other KUEP members in Berakit Village, was taught simple dyeing techniques using roots, stems, and leaves from mangrove plants as the source of color. The batik training using natural dyes from mangroves is supported by the CARE Peduli Foundation (YCP) in collaboration with the Ecology Foundation.

Samsimar, one of the KUEP members, expressed pride in the training she attended. “I am very happy to attend this training because I can learn to make items that I can sell to increase the family income. Through batik training, I hope to produce fabric with beautiful motifs and colors from mangrove plants,” she said. Samsimar hopes that similar training continues so that they can keep growing and improve their family economy.

Generating Additional Income from Household Organic Waste Management
In addition, remarkable women also play a role in environmental management in Sido Mulyo Village, Musi Banyuasin Regency. A women’s group within the Independent Women’s Economic Business Group (KUEP) is actively managing household organic waste by using Black Soldier Fly (BSF) maggots. Nursinaini, one of the group members, explained that they also educate the local community to sort organic and inorganic waste. This initiative not only helps the environment but also opens up economic opportunities for local women. “We manage household organic waste from six families. The waste we manage consists of food scraps, fruits, and vegetables. We also teach the local community to sort organic and inorganic waste,” explained Nursinaini.

In Depok City, a women’s group that participated in YCP training is also involved in managing household organic waste using BSF maggots. From December 2024 to January 2025, the participants successfully managed about 29,772 kg of organic waste. As a result, they earned IDR 6,025,000 from selling the maggots. This initiative shows that women not only play a role in environmental preservation but also in creating sustainable economic opportunities. Arniah Purwanti, one of the participants from Depok City, said she was interested in participating in the maggot management training because it could bring economic benefits. “I saw on social media that maggots can be sold. But it turns out that marketing them is really hard. Now, I know where to sell the maggots, so it’s easier,” said Arniah.

Women are key drivers in environmental protection because they are often directly impacted by climate change and play an essential role in preserving nature. Empowering women, including economic empowerment, is crucial to strengthening their ability to face the challenges of climate change and create sustainable solutions. By empowering women, we also strengthen the environmental and economic resilience of communities as a whole.

Author: Kukuh A. Tohari
Editor: Swiny Adestika

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