The initiative “Transitioning Towards Green Resilience: Building Inclusive and Sustainable Agricultural Communities” is financed by the European Union’s Civil Society Organisations (CSO) 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 initiative, which runs from November 2025 to October 2029, is based on three action pillars:

1. Building Farmer Capacity: Training of Trainers on sustainable agriculture, gender equality, and financial literacy; support for organic certification and climate-resilient farming.
2. Strengthening Farmer Organisations: Business development coaching, community sustainability grants, and policy advocacy training.
3. 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.”

“The EU is delighted to support smallholder farmers in sustainable agriculture in Java and Sulawesi. The partnership between Fairtrade International and Bina Desa will also contribute to improved livelihoods and sustainable consumption,” said H.E. Denis Chaibi, EU Ambassador to Indonesia. 

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.

                                                                        ###

Media and Press Contact

Rosamaria Mancini

E: press@fairtrade.net

About Bina Desa

Bina Desa is an Indonesian non-governmental organization founded in 1975 in Jatiluhur, Purwakarta, West Java. The organisation is dedicated to empowering rural communities and strengthening human resources in rural areas across socio-cultural, socio-ecological, socio-economic, and socio-political dimensions. Bina Desa was established with a strong commitment to marginalized rural communities who have been increasingly sidelined by development models that prioritize growth without equitable distribution. The organisation emphasizes local knowledge and community self-reliance as foundational principles in its work. 

About the European Union

European Union (EU) – The EU is a political and economicunion of 27 Member States. Together, the EU has built a zone of stability, democracy and sustainable development while maintaining cultural diversity, tolerance and individual freedom. The EU is the world’s largest trading bloc, and the world’s largest source and destination of foreign direct investment. 

The 27 Member States of the EU (in protocol order) are: Belgium, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Denmark, Germany, Estonia, Ireland, Greece, Spain, France, Croatia, Italy, Cyprus, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Hungary, Malta, Netherlands, Austria, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Slovakia, Finland and Sweden.