Oxfam's work in Indonesia in depth

Sustainable Livelihood Programme

In 2004, Indonesia ranked 111th out of 177 countries according to the UNDP’s Human Development Index (HDI).

Small-scale farmers, labourers, and people living on small islands and coastal areas have limited access to resources to improve their livelihoods.

Unskilled workers, especially women, in export-oriented manufacturing industries suffer under unfair working conditions.

Facts and figures

• There are about 26 million farmers in Indonesia.
• 20 million people depend on coastal and marine resources.
• 12 million people work in the manufacturing industry and 44 per cent of daily casual workers are paid below the minimum wage.
• On average, according to the gender statistics of UNPFA (2003), women’s wages are only around 68 per cent of male workers
• 153 million people consume less than the recommended dietary energy, which mostly affect women and children.

Fundamental inequalities will remain unless the distribution of power and resources are addressed, and market opportunities are created, managed and regulated to benefit poor people.

Our proposition is to change the power imbalance in markets and in trade so that sustainable livelihoods can be achieved.

Oxfam works with communities and partners to:

• Strengthen the power of farmers’ organisations to influence the process and the content of annual budget for the agriculture sector and food security policies that benefit both men and women at district and national levels.

At the end of 2004, ten district governments in Java agreed to involve farmers’ representatives in their budget planning session as a result of Oxfam’ s partner’s advocacy work.

They started this advocacy in 2001 in four districts, and now the work has been replicated in 21 districts in Java.

• Introduce and support agricultural producers’ business skills, entrepreneurship development, and formal certification for organic products. And promote the adoption of fair and ethical trade practices by business and instil the values of organic production.
• Build advocacy capacity of civil society to enforce the rights of vulnerable communities to food and ensure that the governments fulfil their obligations.
• Strengthen poor fishers’ capacity to manage coastal resources in sustainable and environmentally friendly ways by improving local production and access to markets. Influence the government to allocate sufficient budgets to ensure sustainable harvesting practices.

 Before we got support from a local NGO in 2002, it was very difficult to borrow money from the bank to start a small business. With cash capital of Rp. 300,000 (US$ 32), given by the NGO at that time, I started farming the seaweed. In 2004, our group could produce 1.4 tons of dry seaweed in three months with an average price of Rp. 4,400/kg (US¢ 50). I’m so proud I can give extra money to my family,
says a La Ode Ali, seaweed farmer from Masiri Village, Batauga Sub-district, Buton Island.

Support and strengthen Civil Society Organisations to challenge unfair working conditions in Indonesia by working with the government to improve employment and working conditions for women as well as urging multinational corporations to respect labour rights.

 “Generally speaking, employers are looking to employ female workers – but not because we are considered to be qualified, but because our wages tend to be lower and we are said to be less demanding. But now women workers have become the main target of dismissals,
says a female garment worker in Indonesia.

Reinforce advocacy and campaigning skills of NGOs working in trade liberalisation and educate public about the link between the national trade campaign to regional and global initiatives.

Campaigning in Indonesia

International trade had the potential to reduce poverty, but rigged rules and double standards mean trade is widening the gap between rich and poor, and men and women. Oxfam wants to make trade fair!

Oxfam believes that we must have a rules-based multilateral trading system that supports poverty reduction.

Make Trade Fair is a campaign calling on governments, national and global institutions and multinational companies to change the rules and their practice so that trade can become part of the solution to poverty.

In Indonesia, Oxfam Campaigns together with partners, farmers, formal and informal workers, and fishers to Make Trade Fair in Indonesia and to promote pro-poor government’s policies for ensuring food, income, and job security of poor and vulnerable communities, especially women.

Back to Indonesia in depth overview

Last updated: June 05