Thematic Training for SIGAP Sejahtera Champions: Building Self-Reliant and Sustainable Villages Based on Local Potential

The Berau District Government, through the Community and Village Empowerment Office (DPMK), in collaboration with Yayasan Konservasi Alam Nusantara (YKAN), Yayasan Lingkar Rakyat Nusantara (YALIRA), and Yayasan Nastari, conducted the Thematic Training for SIGAP Sejahtera Champions in Tanjung Redeb, Berau, from 3–6 November 2025.

This training is part of the effort to strengthen the capacity of SIGAP Sejahtera Champions (PSS), who serve as field facilitators at the forefront of assisting village communities. Adopting Aksi Inspiratif Warga untuk Perubahan (the Inspirational Citizen Action for Change (SIGAP)) approach, the training emphasizes the importance of community participation in designing and implementing development based on local potential, particularly in priority sectors such as cocoa, sustainable agriculture, and village tourism.

The SIGAP approach, developed by YKAN, positions communities as the primary actors in development. Through the 7D stages—Disclosure, Define, Discover, Dream, Design, Deliver, and Drive—SIGAP fosters a participatory, inclusive, and sustainable transformation process, ensuring a balance between community welfare and environmental conservation.

In her remarks, Tentrem Rahayu, Head of Berau DPMK, stated that this training aligns with the village development thematic policy, which is oriented toward local potential. “Thematic programs should not remain on paper but must adapt to real potential on the ground. Moving forward, PSS are expected to become the local government’s extended arm, facilitating inter-village collaboration and ensuring that every activity promotes efficiency and sustainable development,” she said.

This training highlights the importance of strengthening village economies through commodities, with cocoa identified as one of Berau’s key potential commodities. According to 2021 data from the East Kalimantan Plantation Office, cocoa plantations in the province cover approximately 6,883 hectares with an annual production of 2,537 tons. In Berau District, there are about 1,677 hectares of cocoa plantations, with an average productivity of 550 kg/ha—still far from the ideal potential of 1.5–2 tons/ha.

Hamzah Nasir, Director of YALIRA, emphasized that thematic strengthening, such as through cocoa, is a crucial part of the empowerment process. “The SIGAP facilitation in each village is directed toward leading themes that match the local potential to improve the community’s economy. By 2025, we hope that SIGAP Champions will no longer act as the main executors but as facilitators fostering collaboration so that villages can become self-reliant and not dependent on external aid,” he explained.

The training involved 50 participants, including 45 village facilitators and 5 subdistrict coordinators from various areas in Berau. Participants received materials on SIGAP principles, local government policies related to village development and commodity enhancement, and practical field training on Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) for cocoa.

During the same event, Gunawan Wibisono, Policy and External Affairs Senior Specialist at YKAN, stressed the importance of cross-sectoral collaboration so that this year’s SIGAP Champion training continues to benefit local communities. “Berau holds extraordinary potential, from tropical rainforests to the Coral Triangle coastlines. There is no reason not to contribute to maximizing these resources. We hope SIGAP Champions can mobilize communities to maintain the balance between village economies and the environmental conservation that defines Berau’s identity,” he said.

The training also served as a space for reflection and joint learning among institutions. Using participatory and andragogical methods, participants engaged in dialogue, practice sessions, and action plan development to be implemented in their respective assisted villages. Through this training, the Berau District Government and its partners aim to realize self-reliant, prosperous, and sustainable villages where the community acts as the principal driver of development, with collaboration and independence blossoming from the grassroots.