Indonesia

• Our office: Jakarta
• Our areas of focus: Climate change, youth empowerment, sustainable development, health, media development, mis/disinformation, and indigenous community.
• Our partners: Norwegian Agency for Development Corporation (NORAD), H2H (back-funded by DFID), United Nation Children Fund (UNICEF), Global Affairs Canada (GAC), and Minderoo Foundation.

About our work

Established in 2019, our Indonesia office is powered by a young and diverse team committed to delivering ambitious, multi-faceted projects.

As one of the world’s most megadiverse countries, Indonesia plays a pivotal role in addressing the climate crisis. Yet, our research shows that Indonesia’s largely urban youth often feel disconnected from forests and deforestation, unsure of how they can contribute to sustainable development. To bridge this gap, we collaborate with influencers, journalists, and indigenous communities to spark youth engagement in environmental issues. Beginning with the Climate Asia research, we launched Kembali Ke Hutan (“Return to the Forest”), a digital-first initiative that includes the social media brand Aksi KitaIndonesia and the award-winning TV series Cerita Kita.

Building on this momentum, our For the People project connects indigenous communities with decision-makers and young Indonesians through discussion clubs and open communication spaces. By tailoring information to community needs, we empower indigenous voices, strengthen social cohesion, and contribute to local economic resilience. We are also implementing Roots of Sustainability, which fosters fact-based public discussions on forest-related policies.

During the pandemic, we used communication as a powerful tool to counter widespread misinformation about COVID-19. Working with the Press Council, public broadcasters, and media associations, we facilitated nationwide discussions between journalists and frontline experts. Through training programs and public service announcements, we also highlighted the Secondary Impacts of COVID-19 on Women and Children. In partnership with international organizations and government agencies, our research assessed health program implementation, ensuring communication strategies were impactful and inclusive.

We continue to strengthen the information ecosystem by working closely with journalists and the media community through initiatives such as PIMHIE and Brave. Our research on information integrity underscores the challenges of digital disruption, including misinformation and the financial struggles of public interest media. In response, we have trained hundreds of journalists to deliver credible, high-quality reporting and to build resilience in the face of global challenges—because accurate information is essential to sustaining a democratic society.