As a follow-up to launching the environmental fund program by the Indonesian Environment Fund (IEF) on March 29, 2022, IEF GGGI conducted a Proposal Writing Training for 25 selected intermediaries on April 18-21, 2022, in Jakarta.

This training is the first capacity building program organized by IEF for intermediary organizations. In the future, with support from GGGI, IEF will organize further capacity building activities in areas needed by the intermediaries.

IEF is currently managing a fund program that aims for social welfare and a sustainable economy for the local communities (TERRA Fund) funded by Ford Foundation. The TERRA Fund aims to support the Indonesian government in their effort to empower the economy of indigenous people and local community living around forest areas through sustainable local economic practices to reduce poverty levels while at the same time contributing to the protection of forest and its ecosystem.

In his opening speech, the Chief Director of IEF, Mr. Djoko Hendratto, uttered his expectation for the participants to become extensions of IEF in implementing and governing the environment fund at the grass-root level. Furthermore, Hendratto emphasized the importance of support and the role of intermediaries in emissions reduction efforts to maintain environmental quality, develop the region, and ensure that the community remains productive and prosperous.

Participants of the training comprised representatives of local organizations from Aceh, West Kalimantan, Central Kalimantan, South Sulawesi, West Nusa Tenggara, East Nusa Tenggara, South Sumatera, Riau, and other provinces. These organizations have programs and are working with communities to promote nature-based solutions in the forest, mangroves and peatlands ecosystem as well as natural resources management, climate change, and social justice problems.

This four-day training program is designed to strengthen the capacity of the invited participants. It is also accessible on the IEF Youtube channel. The participants received information regarding the environmental fund program, including the TERRA Fund. The participants were also equipped with technical content on government policies and the role of civil society on climate change issues; coaching and technical assistance in making proposals, including budget and cost planning, monitoring, and evaluation; as well as coaching and mentoring in the development of environmental and social safeguards.

At the end of the training, the participants presented their work plan in the Theory of Change (TOC) format and the result framework of their proposed community welfare and resilience improvement program. They also submitted the environmental and social safeguard worksheet and the organizational capacity worksheet. The training is also expected to improve the quality of proposals that will be submitted to IEF.