Koneksi update July 2024

Lombok Fieldwork Progress - July 2024

Dr Miya Irawati

Monash University, together with its partner in Lombok, the Agency of Women Empowerment, Child Protection, Population Control, and Family Planning of West Nusa Tenggara Province (NTB), organized a special discussion called "Building Resilience to Climate Change in NTB Province: Engaging Vulnerable Communities". The discussion took place at Hotel Lombok Plaza in Mataram, Lombok Island, on June 26, 2024.

Climate change has a profound impact on vulnerable groups in Lombok, including people with disabilities, women, and older people. The main objectives of this discussion were:

1. To understand the perspectives of stakeholders regarding the effects of climate change on these vulnerable groups in NTB Province,
2. To identify the specific challenges faced by these groups in relation to climate change and develop strategies to improve their resilience based on the experiences and insights of the participants, and
3. To gain an overview of the existing policies and regulations that support the role of women and the involvement of vulnerable groups in addressing climate change.

The discussion was facilitated by local NGOs, Gema Alam and Solidaritas Perempuan, who played a vital role as facilitators. The participants included women group leaders, women, people with disabilities, and older people from various villages in Lombok. Additionally, representatives from provincial agencies such as the Regional Development Planning Agency, the Agency of Women Empowerment, Child Protection, Population Control, and Family Planning, the Environment Agency, the Energy and Mineral Resources Agency, the Social Affairs Agency, as well as the women and child protection agencies from each district of Lombok, were also present.

The outcomes of this discussion will contribute to the development of a model for building climate resilience in Eastern Indonesia, specifically focusing on engaging local communities.

Kupang Regency, East Nusa Tenggara Fieldwork Progress - July 2024

DFAT representatives visits Koneksi research site in Kupang

Dr Welmince Djulete

This project was recently selected as one of the few projects for the DFAT Media Visit on June 27, 2024. Out of the 38 research projects funded through KONEKSI, only a handful are located in East Nusa Tenggara, making this event particularly special.

During the visit, a group of journalists visited our research site in Kupang where they had the opportunity to interview village representatives, stakeholders, and Dr Welmince Djulete, Monash University Postdoctoral Researcher, and Ms. Berti Soli Dima Malingara from GARAMIN NTT, our partner organisation in Kupang. The journalists asked insightful questions about the challenges, impacts, and strategies related to climate change that the vulnerable communities in Kupang face.

Taking advantage of Car Free Day, the public engagement event aimed to educate the communities about climate change impacts on vulnerable communities. The day featured live broadcast event with the radio, Prasendo - a community band featuring people with vision impairment and a zumba session. Watch video here.

This visit offered a wonderful opportunity to showcase the impact of our research within the community. In a media release, Koneksi stated:

“This project, supported by KONEKSI, exemplifies a commitment to equitable partnerships and community-driven solutions in addressing climate challenges”. DFAT Media release

The visit highlighted the importance of collaboration and partnership between Australian and Indonesian researchers in addressing global issues like climate change. The village representatives expressed their appreciation for this  ongoing research, as it provides a platform for them to share their experiences, the effects of climate change on their lives, and potential solutions to enhance climate resilience in Eastern Indonesia.

The head in one of the villages in Kupang where we conducted our research shared that "Regarding climate change, only one or two people in the village of Besmarak know what climate change is. Most people don't know what this climate change is, what it entails. We are grateful that Monash University could come and provide detailed explanations about what climate change is to the government. And indeed, we are aware that climate change will have significant impacts," he continued. "If prolonged climate change occurs, we as a community can get involved. Because the impacts of climate change are related to poverty, health, and nutrition. The task of the village government is to announce policies to address these problems," he explained.

We are grateful for the opportunity to share our research and the experiences of the communities we work with. The media visit served as a valuable platform to raise awareness about the importance of climate resilience and the collaborative efforts being made to address the challenges being presented. REad the DFAT Media release, and media coverage can be found in (Bahasa Indonesia) Metrotvnews, MediaCom.Id - Instragram reel, news articel1 and news article item 2; Liputan6 news article.

Image 1: features the KONEKSI team during the visit in Kupang, demonstrating the collaborative efforts.

Image 2: The women in the village are exhibiting their IKAT Weaving, which is a resilience strategy to overcome economic hardships caused by climate change impacts on agriculture.

Image 3: The villagers' tomato sauce products are a demonstration of  their creativity in increasing the economic value of their produce.
Image 4-6: Village representatives, and our researchers, Dr. Welmince Djulete and Ms. Berti Soli Dima Malingaraare being interviewed during the DFAT KONEKSI media visit.

Image 4-5: Village representatives, and our researchers, Dr. Welmince Djulete and Ms. Berti Soli Dima Malingaraare being interviewed during the DFAT KONEKSI media visit.

Cerita dari penelitian lapangan di Kabupaten Kupang, Nusa Tenggara Timur

Dr Welmince Djulete

Proyek kami baru-baru ini terpilih sebagai salah satu proyek yang akan dikunjungi oleh media DFAT pada tanggal 27 Juni 2024. Dari 38 proyek penelitian yang didanai melalui KONEKSI, hanya sedikit yang berlokasi di Nusa Tenggara Timur, menjadikan acara ini sangat istimewa.

Selama kunjungan tersebut, sekelompok jurnalis mengunjungi lokasi penelitian kami di Kupang, di mana mereka mendapatkan kesempatan untuk mewawancarai perwakilan desa, pemangku kepentingan, Dr. Welmince Djulete, Peneliti Pasca Doktoral Universitas Monash, dan Ibu Berti Soli Dima Malingara dari GARAMIN NTT, mitra organisasi kami di Kupang. Para jurnalis mengajukan pertanyaan yang menarik tentang tantangan, dampak, dan strategi terkait perubahan iklim yang dihadapi oleh masyarakat rentan di Kupang.

Kunjungan media ini sangat penting bagi DFAT dan KONEKSI untuk memahami dampak penelitian kami di dalam komunitas. Dalam rilis media setelahnya, KONEKSI menyatakan, "Proyek ini, yang didukung oleh KONEKSI, merupakan contoh komitmen terhadap kemitraan yang adil dan solusi yang didorong oleh masyarakat dalam mengatasi tantangan iklim."

Kunjungan ini juga menyoroti pentingnya kolaborasi dan kemitraan antara peneliti Australia dan Indonesia dalam mengatasi masalah global seperti perubahan iklim. Perwakilan desa mengungkapkan apresiasi mereka terhadap penelitian yang sedang berlangsung ini, karena hal ini memberikan platform bagi mereka untuk berbagi pengalaman mereka, dampak perubahan iklim terhadap kehidupan mereka, dan solusi potensial untuk meningkatkan ketahanan iklim di Indonesia Timur.

Salah satu Kepala desa di wilayah penelitian kami berbagi bahwa "Menyangkut perubahan iklim, hanya ada satu hingga dua orang di desa Besmarak yang tahu apa itu perubahan iklim. Kebanyakan orang tidak tahu perubahan iklim ini apa, barang apa ini," katanya. "Kami bersyukur bahwa Universitas Monash bisa datang dan memberikan penjelasan detail tentang apa itu perubahan iklim kepada pemerintah. Dan memang, kami menyadari bahwa perubahan iklim ini akan memiliki dampak yang signifikan," lanjutnya. "Jika terjadi perubahan iklim yang berkepanjangan, kami sebagai komunitas bisa terlibat. Karena dampak dari perubahan iklim ini terkait dengan kemiskinan, kesehatan, dan gizi. Tugas dari pemerintah desa adalah mengumumkan kebijakan untuk mengatasi masalah-masalah ini," jelasnya.

Gambar 1: Menampilkan tim KONEKSI selama kunjungan di Kupang, menunjukkan upaya kolaboratif.

Gambar 2: Perempuan-perempuan di desa memamerkan hasil Anyaman IKAT mereka, yang merupakan strategi ketahanan untuk mengatasi kesulitan ekonomi akibat dampak perubahan iklim terhadap pertanian.

Gambar 3: Produk saus tomat warga desa adalah demonstrasi kreativitas mereka dalam meningkatkan nilai ekonomi hasil produksi mereka.

Gambar 4-5: Perwakilan desa dan peneliti kami, Dr. Welmince Djulete dan Ibu Berti Soli Dima Malingara, sedang diwawancarai selama kunjungan media DFAT KONEKSI.

Kami berterima kasih atas kesempatan untuk membagikan penelitian kami dan pengalaman masyarakat yang bekerja sama dengan kami. Kunjungan media ini menjadi platform berharga untuk meningkatkan kesadaran tentang pentingnya ketahanan iklim dan upaya kolaboratif yang dilakukan untuk mengatasi hal tersebut. Untuk informasi lebih lanjut tentang kunjungan media dan inisiatif MoFCREC, silakan kunjungi link yang tersedia.

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Makassar Fieldwork Progress - July 2024

By Dr Yulisna Mutia Sari

On 11th of May 2024, our research partners in Makassar, Associate Professor Sudirman Nasir from Universitas Hasanuddin and Nur Syarif Ramadhan from Perdik (Pergerakan Difabel Indonesia untuk Kesetaraan) were invited to present our project in an Alumni Networking Event in South Sulawesi hosted by Todd Dias, the Australian Consul – General in Makassar. Beside the presentations from three Alumni on their KONEKSI-funded research project, this event also brought together Indonesians who studied in Australia to reconnect, network and entrepreneurial ventures. Find out more about this event here.

The fieldwork in Makassar is nearly completed. Five FGDs (i) people with disability, (ii) Government Stakeholders (regional agency), (iii) Non-government stakeholders, local champion and head of village stakeholder, (iv) Women and (v) Older People,  34 participant interviews (women, older people, people with disability, and stakeholders) and observing 4 areas in Makassar (Lantebung area, Patingalloang, Cembaya and Tallo sub-district) have been conducted.

The data analysis is currently underway and is being considered separately for the three streams (Older people, People with Disabilities and Gender). Analysing specifically for the local context for Makassar, Lombok and Kupang also will be undertaken. A stakeholder workshop in Makassar is planning to be held at the end of August to share our findings to the Government and Non-Government stakeholders in Makassar and seeking their input during the workshop for final analysis and the policy brief – as part of our Participatory Action Research approach.

Pada tanggal 11 Mei 2024, mitra peneliti kami di Makassar, Associate Professor Sudirman Nasir dari Universitas Hasanuddin dan Nur Syarif Ramadhan dari Perdik (Pergerakan Difabel Indonesia untuk Kesetaraan) diundang untuk mempresentasikan proyek kami di Acara Jaringan Alumni di Sulawesi Selatan yang diselenggarakan oleh Todd Dias, Konsul Jenderal Australia di Makassar. Selain presentasi dari tiga Alumnus mengenai proyek penelitian yang didanai oleh KONEKSI, acara ini juga mempertemukan orang-orang Indonesia yang pernah belajar di Australia untuk saling berkoneksi, berjaringan, dan berbagi pengalaman kewirausahaan.
Informasi dan foto selama acara dapat ditemukan di tautan berikut.

Pengambilan data di Makassar sudah hampir selesai. Lima Diskusi Kelompok Terfokus (FGD) telah dilakukan, yaitu (i) penyandang disabilitas, (ii) Pemangku Kepentingan Pemerintah (instansi regional), (iii) Pemangku Kepentingan non-pemerintah, tokoh masyarakat, dan kepala desa, (iv) Perempuan, dan (v) Lansia, serta 34 wawancara partisipan (perempuan, lansia, penyandang disabilitas, dan pemangku kepentingan) dan pengamatan di 4 area di Makassar (area Lantebung, Patingalloang, Cembaya, dan Kecamatan Tallo).

Saat ini, analisis data sedang dilakukan secara terpisah untuk tiga kelompok (Lansia, Penyandang Disabilitas, dan Gender). Analisis khusus untuk konteks lokal Makassar, Lombok, dan Kupang juga akan dilakukan. Lokakarya pemangku kepentingan di Makassar direncanakan akan diadakan pada akhir Agustus 2024 untuk membagikan temuan kami kepada para pemangku kepentingan di Makassar (Pemerintah dan Non-Pemerintah) dan meminta masukan mereka selama lokakarya untuk analisis akhir dan pembuatan kebijakan - sebagai bagian dari pendekatan Penelitian Aksi Partisipatif (PAR) kami.

Image 1: Focus Group Discussion with stakeholders including Civil Society Association, Head of sub district and Health practitioner. We had the participation from WALHI (Wahana Lingkungan Hidup) South Sulawesi Branch, LBH (Legal Aid Institution) of Makassar, POAAM - Persatuan Orangtua Anak Autis Makassar (Association of Parents with Autistic Children) Makassar, Solidaritas Perempuan Anging Mamiri (Solidarity of Women Anging Mamiri), Lantebung family community, Head of Bira sub-district, Health practitioner from Pattingaloang community health centre and Posyandu cadre from Pattingaloang Posyandu

Gambar 1: Diskusi Kelompok Terfokus dengan pemangku kepentingan yang mencakup Asosiasi Masyarakat Sipil, Kepala Kecamatan, dan Praktisi Kesehatan. Turut berpartisipasi dalam diskusi yaitu WALHI (Wahana Lingkungan Hidup) Cabang Sulawesi Selatan, LBH (Lembaga Bantuan Hukum) Makassar, POAAM - Persatuan Orangtua Anak Autis Makassar, Solidaritas Perempuan Anging Mamiri, Komunitas Keluarga Lantebung, Kepala Kecamatan Bira, Praktisi Kesehatan dari Puskesmas Pattingaloang, dan Kader Posyandu dari Posyandu Pattingaloang.

Image 2: Interviewing a farmer with disability in Maros, Makassar. We provide Sign Languange Interpreter to accommodate our interview.

Gambar 2: Mewawancarai seorang petani penyandang disabilitas di Maros, Makassar. Kami menyediakan Penerjemah Bahasa Isyarat untuk mengakomodasi wawancara kami.

Image 3: Interviewing a woman in coastal area impacted by climate change in Makassar.

Gambar 3: Mewawancarai seorang perempuan di wilayah pesisir yang terdampak perubahan iklim di Makassar.

The Herb Feith Indonesian Engagement Centre are truly grateful to the following organisations and institutions who we have and continue to work alongside. We deeply appreciate the support provided by the Monash University Faculty of Arts and Monash University.

Asian Studies Association of Australia (ASAA)

Australia Indonesia Business Council

Australia-Indonesia Institute

Australia Indonesia Youth Association (AIYA)

Australian Consortium for 'In-Country' Indonesian Studies (ACICIS)

Australian National University

Dapur Indo

Hasanuddin University, Indonesia

Indonesia Council

Indonesian Collection at the Monash University Library 

Indonesian Consul General of Victoria and Tasmania

ISEAS - Yusof Ishak Institute

Melbourne Asia Institute

Monash Indonesia Representative Office (MIRO)

Monash Indonesian Student Association

Monash University Publishing

Music Archive of Monash University (MAMU)

NUS Press

Routledge

Sydney Southeast Asian Studies Centre

The Australia-Indonesia Centre

University of Melbourne

University of Sydney

Victorian Indonesian Language Teachers’ Association

Connect with other PhD candidates!

Are you a Monash PhD student doing a topic focused on Indonesia? Would you like to meet other PhDs working on Indonesia?

Join us for a monthly coffee group to discuss research ideas, plans, questions and troubleshoot things like applying for research ethics and conducting fieldwork. It's also a great way to increase your connections and make friends - all graduate research students with an interest in Indonesia are welcome!

If you're keen please email sharyn.davies@monash.edu

Herb Feith PhD Scholarship

This fully funded PhD scholarship is awarded annually to an Indonesian national, based at the Monash University Indonesia Campus, to explore issues of social justice, history in Indonesia.

Jessica Kim
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