The 19th Indonesian Regional Science Association (IRSA) International Conference, held in Ambon from July 15-16 2024, served as a platform for researchers to explore the intricate relationship between gender and climate change, particularly in island communities.
The conference theme of “Gender Inequality and Climate Change Impacts in Archipelagic Regions,” was strongly aligned with KONEKSI’s emphasis on Gender Equality, Disability and Social Inclusion (GEDSI) and research on climate change.
Eight KONEKSI participants presented their research in special sessions, while six presented research posters, and four took part in a panel discussion. KONEKSI supported early career and field researchers to present findings from the program’s collaborative research grants on environment and climate change, with a geographic focus on Eastern Indonesia.
Prof. Kathryn Robinson, Emeritus Professor from the Australian National University (ANU), opened the Conference plenary session with a thought-provoking question: is gender equity key to addressing climate change? Her presentation underscored the critical role of women in development practice, emphasising that when women thrive, economies do as well. Professor Robinson concluded by urging participants to consider how to sustain livelihoods in ways that promote equity.
Youth voices, disability inclusion, and resilient communities
The conference showcased the work of researchers across the archipelago, and the lived experience of the communities they are engaged with.
Elenita Kristalia Seda from Universitas Nusa Cendana Kupang shed light on the gender roles of young people in disaster and climate change in East Nusa Tenggara. By giving voice to children and young people, her research showed how they can become agents of change in their communities. Similarly, Nur Syarif Ramadhan from the Indonesian Disability Movement for Equality (Yayasan PerDIK) drew attention to the often-overlooked experiences of disabled individuals in the face of climate crisis in Eastern Indonesia. His work highlighted the need for inclusive climate action that considers the specific needs and vulnerabilities of people with disabilities.
Rural communities have varying levels of resilience in tackling climate impacts. Moh. Taqiuddin from Universitas Mataram shared research on livelihoods in rural Indonesian communities and strategies for building climate resilience in East Nusa Tenggara, Lampung, West Nusa Tenggara and West Sumatera. These communities have experienced significant climate shifts over the past 10-20 years and are particularly vulnerable to negative impacts due to their reliance on agricultural, fishing, and cattle farming for their livelihoods. These rural communities have developed a range of adaptation mechanisms and coping strategies to deal with the changing climate, which could act as a base for enhancing their future resilience.
In coastal areas, Welem Turupadang from Universitas Nusa Cendana explored the post-COVID resilience and adaptation strategies of seaweed farmers in East Nusa Tenggara. Within the same collaboration, Radhiyah Ruhon from Universitas Hassanudin examined climate vulnerability and livelihood resilience in Indonesian seaweed farming communities. Their research highlighted the intertwined nature of climate dynamics, livelihood strategies, and social factors, as well as the impact of climate-induced disasters on this vital industry, which provides livelihoods to many vulnerable community members.
Fishing communities are also impacted. Ehdra Beta Masran from World Resources Institute (WRI) Indonesia discussed the varied impacts of climate change and adaptive responses in coastal and small island communities in Southwest Papua, which face challenges of limited resources and inadequate infrastructure. Masran’s research concludes that tailored adaptation strategies that integrate local cultural practices and socio-economic understanding are essential for the resilience and sustainability of these communities.
The conference also explored the linkages between climate change, health, and livelihoods. W Sulistya Affarah from Universitas Mataram examined the perspectives of local stakeholders and health providers on climate-resilient primary healthcare. Her research suggests that better alignment and strengthening of health system functions in primary care settings, including mobilising financing, is required to improve the preparedness of primary care providers to mitigate the potential health effects of climate change. Bokiraiya Latuarmury’s work from Universitas Pattimura on inclusive and climate-resilient primary healthcare also demonstrated the looming pressures of the changing climate on inclusive community-level healthcare provision, and the need for proactive planning.
Rahmatul Furqan from AIDRAN highlighted the role of the media in improving climate change literacy through engaging multimedia reporting. Janisa Pascawati, also from AIDRAN, shared her preliminary findings on gender-based climate change adaptation programs in Kajang, South Sulawesi, posing the crucial question: are climate change adaptation programs transforming women’s lives, or reinforcing gender norms on ‘women’s work’?
Women’s resilience and leadership
Women are central figures in the fight against climate change, with several studies at the conference highlighting their resilience and leadership. Aplena Elen Siane Bless from Universitas Papua focused on the knowledge and values of Indigenous Papuan women in mangrove conservation. Her research reiterates the critical role of these women as environmental stewards and highlights the importance of their involvement in managing mangroves, sustaining diverse communities of life, and educating the next generation.
Women’s contributions to households are fundamental to the wellbeing and stability of families. Maklon Felipus Killa from Universitas Kristen Wira shed light on household adaptiveness to climate challenges in Sumba, showing that strengthening place attachment—an emotional bond between individuals and their spatial settings—can enhance household adaptiveness.
Linda Tangie’s research on women’s climate advocacy networks in Kolhua, East Nusa Tenggara, showcased women’s roles in building resilience after the devastating Cyclone Seroja, emphasising the importance of women’s local knowledge and the need for women to form supportive communities during and after disasters.
Lasarus Atamou from the Health Department of Alor Regency Government explored the impact of climate change on women and children’s health. His mixed-methods research documented how women protect their family’s health from climate change-related stresses. Meanwhile, Feliksia Pau Badar from Universitas Nusa Nipa Maumere discussed the impact of climate change on vulnerable groups of women farmers in East Nusa Tenggara, specifically on household food security as experienced by women in agricultural families how they manage household food security and care work in a shifting climate.
Some of the barriers to women’s participation as environmental stewards were highlighted in Yasmita Yaman and Nurul Auliya Amin’s research on social forestry implementation. As research assistants at the Association for the Improvement of Small Business (PUPUK), deeply engaged in the field, their findings revealed women’s exclusion from groups receiving government social forestry permits and difficulties in accessing permit locations. These insights underscore the need for more inclusive approaches in social forestry. Yosevita Latupapua from Universitas Pattimura, in her research on the Dusung system in Maluku, also highlighted the different roles than men and women play in agroforestry.
Research partnerships and policy practice
KONEKSI’s Eastern Indonesia environment and climate change research illuminates the complex intersections of gender, climate change, and community resilience in archipelagic regions, emphasising inclusive and community-driven approaches. This was further explored through two special sessions at the event.
In the first of these sessions, Todd Dias, Australia’s Consul-General in Makassar, underlined the importance of partnerships in addressing critical climate issues. He highlighted the significant research contributions from Eastern Indonesia and the need for collaboration between local and Australian researchers to produce the evidence needed to drive change.
In the second KONEKSI session, Dani Ramadan from the Directorate for Higher Education, Science and Technology at Ministry of National Development Planning (Bappenas), emphasised the importance of translating research into policy dialogues and innovations that can address national and local challenges, and that include the voices of women, people with disabilities, and local communities.
The active participation of KONEKSI researchers in the 2024 IRSA International Conference showed the breadth and impact of research being undertaken through the program’s collaborative research grants, bringing the diverse perspectives of affected communities to the forefront of policy and academic discussions on building equitable and resilient futures for communities in Eastern Indonesia, and beyond.