Jayapura, 14th January 2016. As a part of the monitoring and learning needs, Administrator of CSO Grant Program - NORAD representative Frida Skjaraasen and Rannveig Formo, The Forests and Climate Counsellor in Norway Embassy in Jakarta visiting The Samdhana Projects sites. The 1st visit was conducting in Jayapura and met with Government Representative from Jayapura and Tambrauw Districts. The official meeting was designed by the Government in half day workshop.

The Bupati of Jayapura Districts on his opening remarks emphasized the importance of Indigenous Peoples role in saving the planning from the climate change impact. Given the current priority of the districts development in good governance, customary value reviving and sustainable land uses development, he pointed out that the districts is gradually revitalize it steps forward with engaging non-government organization because the understand the limitation that in their sides. He then thanks for all parties includes Samdhana Institute whose been putting a lot of attention and support in the customary community right development process and appreciate the efforts that Norway Government doing for climate change mitigation and adaptation action.

Rannveig then added that the Norway government are still stand in their bilateral commitment to helps Indonesia in tackling the problem of Deforestation and Degradation and they believe that to achieve the emission reduction target, Indonesia should take a lead action. She also expressed that one way to secure the natural forests is to secure the rights of people in and around forest. So she come to Papua to see and learn for such facts in community. Norway supports are providing not only to the government but also civil society, NGOs and Community groups to working in collaboration addressing the forests, climate and people issues. One form of support as what Samdhana is received from NORAD.

NGO and CSO roles in district development are crucial. In Jayapura, there are several NGOs who's working closely with the government such as Pt PPMA with customary boundary mapping and community organizing, AFP3 with research, assessment and capacity building to customary village governance and Hirosih Foundation their works in conservation of Cyclops mountain. Several keys products have been produced by them in which strengthening the customary villages policy that the district has. AFP3 for example shared that they been working with the government and now almost final with the customary village governance education and training package. Bupati of Jayapura then asked for good collaboration among CSO/NGO and government to realize the overall targeted changes in the development pathway that the government has initiated. The meeting was also included 9 tribe leaders where the legal recognition be given.

Jayapura together with Tambrauw District in Papua Island are two of eight site of the new approved NORAD Grant implementation sites of Samdhana Institute. Three component are in planning to be achieved in 5 years consists of (1) customary boundary mapping and legal recognition, (2) capacity building … and (3) a good example of forests and land uses management. The Samdhana Institute Executive director added that Samdhana is working through partners and will mostly listen from what is needed on the ground. Samdhana niece is to helps customary community getting their dignitary and sovereignty over their land and resources. So priority is given to the areas with strong networking and political commitment in this issues in which all the support are packaging in the capacity and networking building direction.