Monash University’s Herb Feith Indonesia Engagement Centre will embark on a project across Indonesia and Australia to engage with vulnerable communities in Indonesia to develop strategies that strengthen their community resilience to climate change.
The project recently secured funding under the Australian government’s KONEKSI program that aims to facilitate an enduring relationship between Indonesia and Australia to support Indonesia’s inclusive and sustainable development.
Associate Professor Sharyn Davies, Director of the Herb Feith Indonesia Engagement Centre, and project co-lead said the project is a great example of Monash’s global campus network in action.
“Monash is committed to addressing climate change by creating new ideas and solutions to prevent and mitigate its detrimental effects. This grant will provide an opportunity to utilise our research capabilities to make a tangible difference to the lives of vulnerable communities,” Associate Professor Davies said.
“To be climate resilient, communities need to foster strong and enduring partnerships. Through such partnerships vulnerable groups, including people with disabilities, diverse women, and older people, can develop strategies to help ensure fulfilling lives,” Associate Professor Davies said.
The project will explore climate resilience opportunities for key vulnerable groups – people with disabilities, diverse women, and older people – in the eastern Indonesian islands of Lombok, Makassar and Sumbawa.
The outcomes of the project will provide essential baseline knowledge to policy makers and emergency teams to guide flood response planning and resource allocation to best support and empower vulnerable groups in a flood situation.
Project outputs include a tool kit, various stakeholder in-country workshops, and a range of outputs including a short film, accessible media articles with the support of public interest independent journalism initiative 360info, and government policy briefs.
