BONN (GERMANY) – Fairtrade International, in partnership with NGO Yayasan Bina Desa Sadajiwa (Bina Desa), has launched a four-year European Union-funded initiative to support smallholder farmers and producer organisations in Indonesia to better adapt to climate change, access sustainable markets, and strengthen gender equality in agriculture.
The initiative “Transitioning Towards Green Resilience: Building Inclusive and Sustainable Agricultural Communities” is financed by the European Union’s Civil Society Organisations Thematic Programme and will be supporting Indonesia’s “Just Green Transition.” The EU funding for this project totals €1 million.
More than 1,600 smallholder farmers, at least 30 percent of whom are women, across two major Indonesian islands Java and Sulawesi, will be equipped to adopt sustainable farming practices and improve their livelihoods.
Community-based organisations, youth consumers, and local authorities will also be engaged in promoting environmentally sound and inclusive rural development.
The three action pillars of the the initiative
The initiative, which runs from November 2025 to October 2029, is based on three action pillars:
- Building Farmer Capacity: Training of Trainers on sustainable agriculture, gender equality, and financial literacy; support for organic certification and climate-resilient farming.
- Strengthening Farmer Organisations: Business development coaching, community sustainability grants, and policy advocacy training.
- Creating Market Demand and Policy Influence: Consumer campaigns, producer–buyer networking, and policy dialogue with government stakeholders.
“This four-year programme represents a major step toward supporting smallholder farmers, particularly women, to adapt to climate change, strengthen their cooperatives, and access sustainable markets,” said Bindu Sukumarapillai, the CEO of Fairtrade Network of Asia Pacific Producers (NAPP).
“By fostering inclusive, climate-resilient, and gender-equitable farming communities, we aim to advance Indonesia’s Just Green Transition while contributing to both national priorities and the EU’s sustainability goals. Together, we are laying the groundwork for a more resilient, fair, and sustainable agricultural future.”
A Strong Partnership
Armin Salassa, Program Coordinator at Bina Desa added: “This project gives smallholder farmers and rural communities a stronger voice in shaping their future. Together, we will work to ensure that the green transition in Indonesia is inclusive, locally driven, and truly benefits those at the heart of agriculture.”
Aligned with Indonesia’s Presidential Instruction No. 9/2025 – which promotes the revitalization of rural cooperatives and sustainable village economies – and with EU sustainability regulations such as the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), the project complements ongoing national and international efforts to promote sustainable and inclusive agriculture.
Fairtrade International contributes global expertise in sustainable value chains and certification, while Bina Desa brings deep local experience in rural development. Together with Fairtrade NAPP, the partnership ensures strong local ownership and alignment with national priorities.
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