The Climate Village Programme (PROKLIM) is a national initiative from the Ministry of Environment and Forestry of the Republic of Indonesia designed to support grassroots communities, particularly those living in villages, both in rural and urban areas. This programme encourages communities to take an active role in adapting to climate change and reducing its risks. This includes building resilience to increasingly frequent challenges such as floods, droughts, rising temperatures and reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. This programme serves as a reminder that meaningful climate action does not always start with big policies, but with small steps in the local environment.
The YAKKUM Emergency Unit (YEU) has been working with women's groups to strengthen their resilience to climate change. The assistance programme run by YEU is in line with the government's objectives, focusing on empowering women while protecting the environment. One of the groups led by women is the Migunani Farmers Group in RT 13, Suryatmajan Village, which has even been officially recognised as part of the national Climate Village Programme (PROKLIM).
Getting to Know the Migunani Farmer Group and the Madumongso Movement
Syarifah Anggreini leads the Migunani Farmers Group with care and commitment. Together with the group members, most of whom are women from RT 13, she is active in community-based environmental activities using a local knowledge approach, including through a programme they call Madumongso. In Javanese, Madumongso means "ready to face whatever may come." This name is very appropriate for a programme that encourages communities to prepare for climate risks by planting vegetables (such as chillies, mustard greens, and kale) and herbs (turmeric, ginger, celery, galangal, aloe vera, and betel leaf) on small urban plots of land. Through this programme, the community has contributed to reducing the negative impacts of climate change.
These gardens may look simple, but they are extremely useful—greening the environment, lowering air temperatures, and providing healthy food. They also serve as a means of direct education for children and young people about sustainability in a down-to-earth way that is integrated into everyday life.
Clean and Useful Waste Bank
The Migunani group not only focuses on urban agriculture, but also manages the Migunani Waste Bank, led by Mrs Ipong. Of the 125 households in the area, 94 have joined the programme. This waste bank helps reduce the risk of flooding—which is important because the area is located along the Code River—as well as minimising the spread of disease and reducing the burden on the Yogyakarta landfill, especially since the Piyungan landfill was closed to the public.
Residents bring sorted inorganic waste, such as paper, plastic, metal and glass, twice a month. All waste is weighed and recorded. On average, they manage 400–500 kg of waste each month. More than just waste management, this programme encourages the community to see waste as something valuable and to develop more environmentally friendly habits. Most of the sorting process is done at home by women, making it a form of quiet but powerful leadership within the household.
Menyebarkan Kesadaran Melalui Program Kampung Iklim
Beyond their daily routines, the Migunani group also plays an active role in promoting the Climate Village Programme to other groups in the surrounding area, such as the Gempita and Suryatani waste banks. They help these groups to register with the national system, which can open up access to recognition, learning and even funding. This is a concrete example of how community knowledge is shared from neighbour to neighbour, from woman to woman.
This group also regularly holds awareness-raising activities, such as community service and socialisation about the "3M" approach: draining, covering and burying water containers to prevent mosquito-borne diseases. These actions are simple, but they are rooted in a deeper commitment to living together in a healthy, clean and environmentally friendly manner.
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Author: Devina Prima Kesumaningtyas – Information and Communications Staff
Editor: Jessica Novia – Project Manager