Siak Sri Indrapura, 22 October 2024 - Lecturers of the Department of Government Science, Faculty of Social and Political Sciences, Riau University (FISIP UNRI) held an Expert Focus Group Discussion (FGD) attended by a number of representatives from government agencies and NGOs. This event took place in the Meeting Room Lt. II of the Siak District Bappeda Office, starting at 10.00 WIB until completion.
This Expert FGD discussed collaboration in research entitled ‘Ecological Fiscal Transfer; Innovation Model for Green Siak Policy Collaboration,’ which is the result of collaboration between the Department of Government Science and Fitra Riau. The purpose of this Expert FGD activity is to get an overview of the existing conditions for implementing the TAKE policy in supporting the Siak Green District Policy, mapping the interests and roles of actors and the action collaboration model in encouraging the achievement of Green Siak policy goals. This activity is a forum to strengthen the implementation strategy of the Green Siak policy which focuses on sustainability and responsible use of natural resources.
In the FGD, a number of regional officials were present, including representatives from the Regional Secretariat, Regional Finance Agency, Community and Village Empowerment Office, Environment Office, Siak District Agriculture Office, as well as the Siak Hijau Secretariat Team and the Secretariat of the Green Siak Private Sector Coalition (KPSSH). In addition, the SEDAGHO Siak Team and Fitra Riau were also present as the main collaborative partners in this research.
Dr Baskoro Wicaksono, S.IP, M.IP as the Head of the Research Team, a lecturer in Government Science at FISIP UNRI, delivered an introductory statement that this discussion could strengthen cross-sector synergies to support the Green Siak policy. ‘We hope that through this FGD, we can formulate innovative solutions that strengthen efforts to preserve the environment while improving the economy of the people in Siak District,’ he said.
Drs.L. Budhi Yuwono, M.Si as Head of BAPPEDA Siak District said ‘The Green Siak Policy is motivated by forest and land fires, peatland conversion, mangrove ecosystem degradation, air pollution, reduced water catchment areas, and watershed damage and river pollution so that a comprehensive strategy is needed in the implementation of balanced development between economic, social and environmental orientations. This cannot be done by the Regional Government alone, there needs to be collaboration and synergy with NGOs, Private Sector to the Village Government. We pour EFT in the policy of Ecological-based District Budget Transfer (TAKE) in an incentive scheme to villages that have good environmental performance with a funding scheme from the reformulation of the Village Fund Budget (ADK) and Special Financial Assistance (BKK) Revenue Sharing Fund for Reforestation Fund (DBH-DR)’.
The results of the FGD discussion are expected to provide strategic recommendations to strengthen the Green Siak policy and develop an effective fiscal financing scheme through environmental performance-based budget allocation or EFT. This scheme is expected to be a model for other regions in Indonesia in implementing environment-based sustainable development policies. The event went smoothly and ended with the commitment of all parties present to continue to collaborate in ensuring the success of sustainability programmes in Siak District.
MF-RF