Papua Indigenous Peoples Empowerment (PIPE) Programme

Do international community aware that there are many programmes in regard to the development of Papuans? Those programmes are not only initiated by Indonesian government and local government of West Papua and Papua Province, but also supported by international donor agencies such as UNDP, ILO, and many other international NGOs.

A very convincing example is the Papua Indigenous Peoples Empowerment (PIPE) Programme Reducing Poverty and Strengthening Peace and Development Mechanisms involving Indigenous Peoples in Papua and West Papua (Indonesia). The project focuses on providing support to poverty reduction and community development initiatives of indigenous peoples at the village level; support to initiatives for strengthening peace and development mechanisms; and, support to mainstreaming gender issues in the development process at the community level.

Lessons learn and progress of the PIPE project:The project, which is covered by a Memorandum of Understanding between the Provincial Government of Papua and the ILO has just been through its first year of implementation. During this period, the preparatory stage has been completed and the implementation stage has begun.

Project orientation meetings with partner agencies have already been conducted and, in order to systematize the delivery of support by the partner agencies, the NPAC and the PSC have been organized.

Through the coordination of the PSC, pilot project sites have been identified and validated. Community development facilitators (CDFs) have been selected by the partner communities and have undergone training on community-driven participatory development and poverty reduction techniques. Community leaders have also undergone initial training on village development and organizational management.

With the help of the CDFs, all four partner communities have completed their respective baseline survey and action plan for poverty reduction and village development. They have also prepared their specific activity proposals and identified corresponding training needs.

The implementation by the partner communities, through their own traditional community organizations, of their community action plans for village development and poverty reduction has started. Basic socio-economic skills development training activities covering priority local areas of production such as in agriculture (vegetable production), horticulture (Kakao and Coffee production), poultry/animal husbandry (native chicken,hogs and cows), inland/deep sea fishing, fruit/food processing and cooperatives management have been completed. More than 700 community members have already participated in these skills development activities.

Preparations are now underway for follow-through activities and the implementation of activities under the second and third objectives – the strengthening of peace and development mechanisms and the mainstreaming of gender equality issues in the development process.

Initial feedback indicate that most partner agencies as well as indigenous community leaders and members welcome the CDPD approach to poverty reduction and village level development. They are enthusiastic and willing to support and participate in the undertaking.