DELTA API originated with the Eco Climate Village (ECV), a village scale concept for climate change that was designed in 2010 by Santiri Foundation in collaboration with the community of Desa Jambi Anom, in North Lombok. Concomitant with the passage of time and the arrival of new concepts and approaches for management of the landscape in coastal regions such as the Development of Pesisir Tanggu Village, working with PDTP (Resilient Coastal Village) for village scale climate change adapta- tion, I-CATCH Tools (Indonesia-Climate Adaptation Tools for Coastal Habitat) and Participative Mapping, it became clear that these new ideas and methods should be integrated to improve the original concept. Thus in 2012 the concept of DELTA API was born.

Now DELTA API is not merely a concept, but more like a movement. It is powered by young people, in the region of Sunda Kecil Maluku, (SUKMA). The aim is to redesign Indonesia's development model, starting with units of the smallest region, i.e. hamlets. The redesigned model will provide a “counter-model” for mainstream development, different to that currently in use, and more relevant to the vast archipelago of Indonesia. It is hoped that this counter-model will also respond better to effects of climate change and natural disasters.

The long-term target is to guarantee the safety of residents and provide environmental services. All this can be done through application of systems of good governance, from the correct utilization of natural resources, to providing clear access for communities to their sources of livelihood. Empowering young people ensures that the nation's next generation will have an awakening interest and motivation to pay more attention to the state of the environment around them. It also improves leadership capacity to develop villages in a more sustainable manner, enabling long term aims to be achieved.

DELTA API is now being implemented as a model in five SUKMA territories, and will in turn be replicated or expanded into other regions. The ve existing areas are Bali (Jembrana), Lombok (in the North), Sumbawa (Dompu), Sumba (Central Sumba), and North Maluku (Morotai). Each model territory consists of three villages, chosen based upon four main indicators: 1) High Risk, 2) High Conservation Values, 3) High Impact and 4) High Prospects. The three villages in each territory model must be within a unified socio-ecosystem, identified as a role model and counter model from a development angle, and affected by climate change.

Only three of the ve model territories have received continual support since 2012: Bali, Sumbawa and Sumba. In Bali, after four years of support, the youth have already succeeded in developing future plans in a participative manner by focusing upon better management of their coastline areas. An overall master plan has not yet been finalized, as the number of youths in DELTA API Bali team has dwindled.

Integration was carried out with Conservation International (CI) and the Institute for Research and Ocean Observation (BPOL), resulting in a pledge that the youth of DELTA API will continue to be involved in these activities, and among other things, join in the running of conservation projects managed by CI and partake in ecosystem studies of mangroves with BPOL during 2016.

The DELTA API youth work in Jembrana, Bali was well received by the local legislative council (DPRD), who expressed their appreciation of the work done, especially in the villages of Perancak and Budeng. The local legislative council of Jembrana promised to take action on issues raised and will allocate a portion of the 2016 annual budget to enable them to extend their scope of action to other villages within Jembrana Regency. Based upon existing potential, the development of DELTA API Bali is focusing upon creating a Centre for Study of Mangroves and Oceanography Observation.

DELTA API Sumbawa is a different story. Besides becoming politically involved, the government of Dompu Regency has also provided financial aid from their annual budget to support the youth movement and its activities, allowing them to extend the area of intervention and deepen the scope of village planning.

The Dompu DELTA API development project has been guided towards creating a Centre of Management, Knowledge and Information. DELTA API has been integrated with non-governmental institutes to carry out training in the management of plastic rubbish. These activities were carried out together with the Bali Centre of Environmental Education (PPLH) in the area of Ria Beach which has been scaling up to become a DELTA API Dompu area since 2014. The future plan is to convert recycled rubbish as a source of funding, through micro nance. The interesting thing about the Dompu DELTA API is the positive energy of the young people of Dompu, which in turn has attracted the attention of other young people in the region and motivated them to take active and concerned roles. This has resulted in higher expectations by Bima's local government, in developing the Spatial Plan (RTRW) for the Regency.

A similar thing happened in Sumbawa. The young people had for some time felt left out, as they were given no active role, and now they feel better appreciated and are motivated to pay more attention to what is happening in their own environment.

A similar thing happened in Sumbawa. The young people had for some time felt left out, as they were given no active role, and now they feel better appreciated and are motivated to pay more attention to what is happening in their own environment.

In Sumbawa crisis occurred within the local economy because of mining activities, which resulted in a renewal of interest among young people keen to seek solutions. Together the DELTA API youth and the people of Manuwolu, Watu Asa and North Wandewa have drafted a comprehensive master plan that encompasses adaptation to climate change, disaster mitigation, sustainable farming and using land around living areas for household gardens.

To develop the potential of the area, a number of training sessions were held for women to learn to make organic fertilizer, and discuss methods of mitigation and adaptation to climate change, and how to develop more sources of income. Efforts were made to maximize the results, integrating the DELTA API Master Plan with the village Medium Term Development Plan (RPJM), and discussed at Village Development Plan Meetings. Sumba's DELTA API Youth Group activities have also been revitalising Paku Mata Wai Springs by planting trees, (2500 to 3000 trees per farm) on the land of local farmers. Sumba's DELTA API is designed to become a Cen- tre for the Study and Management of Local Wisdom and Microfinance in the long term.

See more at The Samdhana Institute Annual Report 2015