The Resilient Cities Network (R-Cities) is providing support to the Kalibaru Hub, a transformative initiative facilitating fishing communities in Jakarta to upcycle green mussel waste into cutting-edge environmentally friendly products. This initiative was proposed in 2019 by the SDGs Jakarta Secretariat under the Regional Development Planning Agency of the Jakarta Provincial Government. The funds will be received and managed by the United Cities and Local Government Asia-Pacific (UCLG ASPAC), the appointed entity responsible for implementing the project with supervision and guidance from the Jakarta Provincial Government.
The funding is part of the R-Cities’ Resilient Community Impact Funds (RCIFunds), seeded by Bank of America, that targets resilience projects with a specific focus on community innovation. This funding marks a significant milestone for the city’s commitment to sustainable waste management practices and empowering local small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) while creating new economic opportunities for the community in Jakarta.
Lauren Sorkin, Executive Director of Resilient Cities Network said: “The RCIFunds grant will be instrumental in kicking-off and sustaining the Kalibaru Hub. It empowers the leaders of green, urban SMEs with capital, fosters their product development, and enhances their access to markets for recycled products. This project demonstrates the synergy between catalyzing local entrepreneurial growth and community resilience.”
Kalibaru is a coastal community in North Jakarta known for its green mussels, a popular food among Indonesians. The community relies on the green mussel industry for livelihood; however, the elaborate production process is labor intensive and generates a large amount of waste, commonly dumped at sea. Proper waste management and working conditions for the community have become a major challenge.
Through the Catalyzing City Resilience Solutions program, the city introduced new business initiatives to process shell waste. The initiatives involved strengthening the organizational capacity and business skills through a series of capacity-building sessions for the Cangkring (Cangkang Kering or Dry Shell) community.
Atika Nur Rahmania, Chairman of the Regional Development Planning Agency, stated: “The Kalibaru Hub is an initiative that aligns with our city vision for sustainable development in Jakarta. This project not only addresses the issue of waste management but also empowers local SMEs and fosters a circular economy, and many others urban issues in the area. We are proud to initiate this synergy that showcases the impact of community-driven resilience projects. As a local government, we will strive to play the role as an enabler, addressing various aspects to fulfill our vision in making the hub a comprehensive solution to address SDGs issues in Kalibaru sub-district.”
The Kalibaru Hub is designed to create new uses for waste in an innovative micro-circular economy in the Cangkring community. With the support of the RCIFunds, the Hub will act as a central community center for SMEs to recycle waste efficiently and develop products from the recycled waste. By providing SMEs with essential initial capital, supporting product development, and facilitating market access for their recycled products, the funds are poised to accelerate the growth and success of local entrepreneurs. United Cities and Local Government Asia-Pacific (UCLG ASPAC) will assist in the implementation of the Kalibaru Hub, bringing local government stakeholders and business training to this groundbreaking initiative that benefits the local community.
Dr. Bernadia Tjandradewi, Secretary General of UCLG ASPAC, mentioned that this collaboration is a part of UCLG ASPAC commitment to support Jakarta to continue building resilience, starting from its communities. “Building resilience can start from anywhere, this time supporting Kalibaru Hub and Cangkring community will start a multiplier effect in the resilience-building efforts in Jakarta. The Cangkring has proved that they bring more benefits to themselves and the community. The aspects of environment, waste, recycling (upcycling), youth, gender, and community involvement, as well as social and economic issues are strongly visible in this initiative. The co-benefit the Cangkring community demonstrates holds enormous potential in supporting resilience-building efforts” she added.
In cities around the world, the pursuit of funding for resilience projects at the community level has presented a widely recognized obstacle. To address the growing demand for funding, R-Cities introduced the RCIFunds. The RCIFunds is distinctive in its approach to measuring return on investment based on resilience value of a project. This value is derived from evaluating a number of indicators such as equitable service access, social cohesion, greenhouse gas reduction, holistic community and economic development. RCIFunds considers projects that are designed to deliver co-benefits that are key to planning and retaining holistic resilience with a focus on equity in urban communities. Moreover, this funding serves as a catalyst for triggering matching contributions at the local level. By merging sustainable waste management practices and fostering local entrepreneurship, the Kalibaru Hub is an example of how a resilience approach to addressing challenges drives innovation. The project’s multi-faceted approach will undoubtedly yield positive social, economic, and environmental impacts, positioning Jakarta as a leading city in circular and innovative initiatives.
About Resilient Cities Network
Resilient Cities Network is the world’s leading urban resilience network. It brings together global knowledge, practice, partnerships, and funding to empower its members to build safe and equitable cities for all. Its unique city-led approach ensures cities drive the agenda to benefit the communities they serve. At work in over 100 cities worldwide, the Resilient Cities Network supports on-the-ground projects and solutions to build climate resilient, circular and equitable cities while also facilitating connections and information-sharing between communities and local leaders. For more information, please visit resilientcitiesnetwork.org.
Press Contacts:
Lynette Lim
llim@resilientcitiesnetwork.org
