Collaboration Between Berau Regency Government and YKAN Strengthens Women’s Enterprises and Marine Conservation

The Solutions for Marine and Coastal Resilience in the Coral Triangle (SOMACORE) Programme, through Yayasan Konservasi Alam Nusantara (YKAN), is advancing women’s empowerment in Berau Regency, East Kalimantan. The initiative focuses on three coastal villages—Pegat Batumbuk, Suaran, and Tabalar Muara—to strengthen local enterprises while ensuring the sustainability of coastal and marine ecosystems.

The Secretary of Berau Regency’s Fisheries Department, Yunda Juliarsih, emphasized the important role of women in managing marine resources. “Through the Somacore program, women’s empowerment in coastal areas has grown stronger. This is in line with the Regent of Berau’s directive to increase women’s roles in regional development,” said Yunda.

According to Yunda, women play a strategic role in keeping coastal ecosystems healthy, while also ensuring food security and a decent household environment. “Coastal women are also key in strengthening climate resilience in coastal and marine areas,” she added.

Meanwhile, YKAN’s Ocean Policy Director, Muhammad Imran Amin, stressed that strengthening women’s business groups is a top priority of the Somacore program. “Resilient women’s groups will enhance the management of the Coastal and Small Islands

Conservation Area of the Derawan Islands and Surrounding Waters (Kawasan Konservasi Perairan, Pesisir, dan Pulau-Pulau Kecil Kepulauan Derawan dan Perairan Sekitarnya/KKP3K KDPS). They make a significant contribution to sustaining fishery resources that support their families’ livelihoods,” Imran explained.

The Somacore program also promotes women’s access to natural resources, production, and business development capital. In addition, the program includes mangrove ecosystem restoration in shrimp pond areas and capacity building for communities in monitoring sea turtle habitats within the KKP3K KDPS in Berau, which is part of the global Coral Triangle and the Sulu-Sulawesi seascape.

Beyond women’s empowerment, YKAN collaborates with the Berau Regency Government in managing sustainable aquaculture. This partnership aims to strengthen cooperation between the Berau Fisheries Department and YKAN in developing women’s enterprises and managing healthy coastal ecosystems to support food security and the coastal economy.

Imran further noted that Somacore is funded by Germany’s International Climate Initiative (IKI) in collaboration with Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries of Indonesia, and the Coral Triangle Initiative on Coral Reefs, Fisheries, and Food Security (CTI-CFF).“This program supports the Government of Indonesia in strengthening coastal resilience, safeguarding community livelihoods, and preserving vital marine landscapes, particularly in Berau, East Kalimantan,” concluded Imran.