Indonesia has established over 300 marine protected areas (MPAs) spanning 23.9 million hectares to safeguard its marine ecosystems. However, coastal communities living near MPAs often experience lower socioeconomic conditions and greater levels of inequality than those residing outside these areas.
While MPA managers are legally obligated to improve community welfare, practical implementation often falls short of improving community well-being. Balancing the ecological and social dimensions of MPA management remains a complex challenge. To bridge this institutional capacity gap, Agence Française de Développement (AFD), in partnership with SMERU and the Indonesian Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries, developed a research-based toolbox titled “Information and Guidance Package on Mainstreaming Poverty Reduction and Inequality Reduction in Communities around Indonesian MPAs (PKM2PK)” to guide MPA managers in integrating poverty and inequality reduction into every stage of MPA management. The stages encompass the development of legal frameworks, MPA establishment processes, planning and budgeting, MPA implementation, partnerships, and monitoring and evaluation.
To fully leverage the toolbox, MPA managers must be equipped with the necessary knowledge and skills. SMERU pilots a capacity building program to enhance the managers’ ability to integrate poverty and inequality reduction strategies into their management practices.
This project aims to equip Indonesian MPA managers with the tools and expertise to integrate poverty and inequality reduction into their management practices, thereby improving the well-being of coastal communities residing near the MPAs.
The first step of this project is to create a full set of capacity building materials (modules and activities) for MPA managers. The material will be subjected to a pilot test prior to its adaptation and integration into the three-phase onboarding program for new MPA managers.
- Phase 1: Planning and Preparation
SMERU works closely with the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries in preparing a pilot program, including site selection, module development, and facilitator recruitment.
- Phase 2: Implementation
SMERU and facilitators implement the pilot capacity building program, which will include real-world case studies and practical exercises.
- Phase 3: Enduring Impact and Improvement
SMERU uses the evaluation feedback analysis to refine the pilot program, develop an updated onboarding program for new MPA managers, create training materials for trainers, and provide necessary tools for implementation.
