Accelerating Recognition of Indigenous Peoples Rights in Tanah Papua as Key to Low-Emission Development

Project site/ area of implementation

Samdhana aims to achieve results in the two cultural regions of Bomberai (Teluk Bintuni/Tambrauw), or the Maybrat/Arfak regency in West Papua Province); and Mamta (Jayapura Regency, including Papua Province) in Tanah Papua. However, Samdhana will remain open to opportunities outside the priority areas should they present themselves.

Project period

2021-01-01 - 2021-12-31

Donor Partner

Climate and Land Use Alliance

Latest Project Update

Project objectives

The overall objectives of the project is to strengthen community land rights, through work with communities, local CSOs and local government offices in Papua and West Papua. In particular the purpose of the project is to achieve:

Indigenous Rights Recognition over territories and the forests in Tanah Papua
IP rights over land and natural resources are recognised and integrated into low-carbon development in Tanah Papua
Indigenous communities/CSOs demonstrate their capacity to provide and communicate inputs
These inputs are then integrated into the West Papua provincial Low-Carbon Development Initiative

Project components/ target outputs

Sub-grants provide technical support for IP and CSOs for advancing the registration of customary land and forest
Samdhana / its partners capture lessons and stories of both successes and failures in promoting indigenous rights and livelihoods.
A brief/summary of Tanah Papua tenurial situation analysis is disseminated to government units at the regency, provincial and national level.
At least one indigenous land rights claim over the land and natural resources is advanced through registration. This could include, but is not limited to, Teluk Bintuni, Tambrauw, or Maybrat in Wilayah Budaya Domberay.
At least one pilot site gaining rights recognition through the Customary Village scheme. This could include, but is not limited to, Jayapura Regency in Wilayah Budaya Mamta.
At least one story drawn from the experiences in advancing indigenous rights and livelihoods is documented and shared with other communities and government offices, especially those from the relevant cultural area, i.e., Mamta for experiences in Jayapura.
Consolidated inputs from indigenous organizations or CSOs for the West Papua Low-Carbon Development Initiative, gathered through on-going development of the West Papua Province Safeguards Information System (through the programme/activity of Provincial Research and Development Agency, or Provincial Forestry Office); or at Papua Province, through the Provincial Committee for Climate Change and Sustainable Development).

Implementation Partners

Samdhana provides small but strategic support to local partners. This group includes the following organizations: Foker, which is a coalition of 110 local NGOs in Papua and West Papua Province, working on promoting indigenous people’s rights and security over land and natural resources; Econusa, a CSO based in Jakarta; WRI Indonesia, with whom Samdhana is collaborating to develop the Adat Maps portal and CSO coalitions; Institut Penelitian Inovasi Bumi (INOBU), a partner in the Governor Climate Forum (GCF) Task Force; IDH, a Jakarta-based NGO working in Papua and West Papua; Green Economic Growth for Papua and West Papua (GEG), which is a co-member of the Low Carbon Development Task Force; Governor Climate Forum (GCF), responsible for sustainable commodities development and accelerating tenure security; and the Land Equity UKCCU Project, which aims to improve spatial planning and low carbon development through technical assistance.