Plan Indonesia Won SDGs Action Awards 2023

Plan Indonesia won the 2nd Best Award for the Civil Society Organization category at the SDGs Action Awards 2023 from the Ministry of National Development Planning/Bappenas RI.

The award was presented by the Minister of Bappenas, Suharso Monoarfa, in Yogyakarta on November 7, 2023 to Dini Widiastuti, Executive Director of Plan Indonesia.

This award was given for a good initiative of Plan Indonesia called Green Skills that encourages young women’s leadership in various villages in South and North Central Timor to drive innovative and sustainable organic farming.

Green Skills is a program to empower young farmers, especially young women aged 18-29 years old in underdeveloped villages to develop entrepreneurship in organic agriculture in a sustainable manner, in 29 villages in South Central Timor District, East Nusa Tenggara Province.

This program aims to develop the capacity of young people in rural areas, especially young women, to become young farmers who have a source of income and decent work through the development of entrepreneurship in sustainable organic agriculture by utilizing idle land in the village.

Beyond that, through Green Skills, Plan Indonesia also targets rural youth, especially young women, to be economically empowered in their villages as productive young farmers, skilled in managing organic farming businesses including the use of appropriate technology in dry areas, and open access to markets and funding.

Through the Green Skills program, Plan Indonesia also contributes to Best Practice towards the Achievement of SDGs Goals through several Pillars.

1. First, the Social Development Pillar, Goal 5, Gender Equality, and Goal 2, Zero Hunger.
2. Second, the Economic Development Pillar, Goal 8, Decent Work and Economic Growth
3. Third, the Environmental Development Pillar, Goal 13 on Climate Change and Goal 2 on Zero Hunger, and Goal 12 on Responsible Consumption and Production.

green skills

Since 2015, the Green Skills program has successfully implemented an environmentally friendly agriculture program using organic farming methods and drip irrigation (minimal water use to adjust to the dry conditions of the area in NTT), solar-powered irrigation pumps, water filters and seeds, related businesses and/or in collaboration with local producers, suppliers, and/or traders.

This farming method is not only environmentally friendly, but also gender transformative. Green Skills has improved the leadership, solidarity and socio-political position of marginalized groups of young women, especially young women in villages who have not had much access to land, entrepreneurial skills or participation in village decision-making.

Training including soft skills (such as self-confidence, communication, and negotiation skills), environmentally friendly agricultural technology, financial literacy, creating business plans, and market access were also provided to program participants.

During implementation, Plan Indonesia has formed 66 youth farmer groups in 29 villages in NTT. Each harvest time, these groups earn an income of around 4-8 million (3 harvests per year), and receive capital assistance from financial institutions and support from the village government.

The Green Skills program also involves parents, and works closely with village government and traditional/church leaders to support and mentor the Green Skills groups that are formed.

The program, which has been implemented since 2015, has successfully reached 1,017 people.

In fiscal year 2021, 50% of the total trainees have successfully owned their own business.

Beyond that, at least 330 youth (80% young women) aged 18-29 received training in advanced green skills and agricultural techniques (such as drip irrigation, use of organic pesticides, and safe waste disposal), and life skills training (such as business and marketing skills, building confidence, communication and negotiation skills, and understanding their rights).