VCA Tanah Papua: A Five-Year Journey

Funded by the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs since 2020, this five-year-long collaboration is reaching its end. During an interview with the project leaders, heartwarming stories were shared, including detailed information about their actions, followed by their hopes for the future. Within the grand scheme of this project, nothing can be executed alone; everything should be based on active collaboration with trustworthy partners. To this day, VCA Tanah Papua has worked together with 11 partners to support its implementation processes. This implementation is based upon three pillars, with its main goal being expanding the collaboration’s network, as climate mitigation requires the help of many. One of the pillars also focuses on the essence of partnership and teamwork, considering that these tasks are not as easy. This scheme will ease each other’s burden, becoming a bridge to reach its main goal of tackling climate change while building a resilient community.

Looking back at its timeline, the programme began in 2021 despite being launched in 2020 and will soon end in December  2025. The pillars they abided by refer to the people of Papua in general and to grassroots actors. During the implementation, VCA Tanah Papua has increased its capacity in multiple sectors, specifically its partners and mentoring locations, as these results are deeply connected with the locals. Despite the limitations of the situation due to the resources and location, the results of this collaboration have been remarkable. This includes the increasing capacity of marginalised Indigenous communities, participatory approach processes, and the recognition of Indigenous people by the local government, which was mostly facilitated by the partners. This collaboration also highlighted the importance of women, management of natural resources (leading to food security), and understanding the ability of their local chip products with taro and banana as their basic ingredients as a stepping stone. These products are then introduced to the local government, followed by related groups who are eager to be nurtured and develop their ability deeper in maintaining the production of these goods.

This then leads to strengthening the capacity of young people within the area and how this project can approach and involve the current and coming generations through culture and have a long-term positive impact. VCA Tanah Papua’s mentoring location is spread out to different parts of the region, with at least two villages in Jayapura, 16 tribes in South Papua, and around five villages in Southwest Papua. Apart from the mentioned efforts, the focus of this project has also been poured into facilitating or bridging the issues raised from these locations to the government. These efforts lead to the biggest issue they have been facing: business-based investments. Due to these investments, Papua’s resources are threatened, specifically its forests, leaving the Indigenous people powerless. For instance, sago plantations that are located at the heart of these forests are destroyed due to these irresponsible investments, leading to issues in food security, and taking away the role of women within the area, as these forests are their home, their habitat to teach their knowledge and share their experiences with the upcoming generations. In addition, these investments contribute to land degradation, ‘natural’ disasters, and drought and worsen the impacts of climate change. To prevent this from happening any further, locals are focusing on the use of Nature-Based Solutions (NBS) and therefore require the help of nearby authorities in the implementation.

These solutions are divided into three pillars, with the first being the increasing capacity of young people and women within the grassroots level; second, always highlighting collective actions and a supportive community in raising their concerns and finding acceptable solutions; and third, how these actions can be narrated and soon be documented as policies. This is shown through the success of the recognition and protection of customary areas in Tambrauw, Southwest Papua, followed by the recognition and adoption/legalisation of one clan in Papua. Furthermore, climate forums in Jayapura have also increased, considering there were only three initially. Regarding food security, Papua’s ecosystem has great potential, covering sago, taro, banana, and marine products such as fish to be processed into goods, including crackers, chips, salted fish, and the unique ‘ant’s nest tea.’ Among many, Noken, a traditional Papuan bag with its rich philosophy that has influenced the lifestyle of Papuans, has made it to UNESCO’s list of intangible cultural heritage since 2012. Preserving Noken means preserving Papua’s trees, as, according to the Project Leaders, Noken is not just merely an economic development but also a climate message. This bag represents sustainability, preservation, and traditional conservation, as it is produced carefully without cutting down trees.

In their efforts to showcase their results and expand their network, VCA Tanah Papua participated in Indonesia Climate Week (ICW) in December 2024 at Taman Ismail Marzuki, Jakarta. Here, they emphasised that there are multiple local solutions that can be adopted, raised, and soon replicated by the government. Indigenous people do not need anything too advanced; they need proper community development, a clear-targeted campaign that is not merely or highly technology-based, though the help of basic tech is still needed. What people need and offer is how the economy and climate can work alongside one another. The changes carried out within this collaboration are not merely economic but more about long-term, sustainable values. The essence still refers to preserving the traditional values and how the local products can serve as a bridge between the people and the authorities.

This collaboration has also birthed climate champions, and VCA Tanah Papua’s Project Leaders aim that these champions may partner up and be equal with the government to support any decision-making processes, especially in mitigating climate change and irresponsible investments. Despite nearing its end, these project leaders also express their high hopes in Papua’s young generations to constantly maintain what has been done and relay the same message, heart, and legacy to the upcoming generations. As for the near future, if paired with the collaboration’s current beneficiaries, these young generations can build a better system with their current resources and network. They must ensure that their progress is not returned to zero. They also hope that the local government will take an interest in resuming the established projects, especially in terms of funding. All in all, people must rely on adoption, replication, and collaboration. No one can work alone; as clichéd as it may sound, this effort should start from within. VCA in Tanah Papua is not merely a project or an approach; it is a climate language that must be literate and exposed to the greater community to make sure everybody is running towards the same goal with the same understanding.

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