Three Women’s Groups from Raja Ampat Share Leadership and Conservation Experiences

Three women’s groups from Misool, located in Raja Ampat Regency, Indonesia, organized a three-day gathering in Gianyar, Bali, from April 9 to 11, 2026. The purpose of the gathering was to share their experiences in leadership and sustainable natural resource management. They leveraged this event as a platform for collective reflection, learning, and emphasizing the crucial role of women in enhancing their well-being and safeguarding the environment.

The three participating groups were Waifuna from Kapatcol Village, Joom Jak from Aduwei Village, and Zakan Day from Salafen Village. These groups comprised 20 women, both older and younger. They engaged in discussions about women-led leadership practices rooted in local wisdom, with a specific focus on fisheries management through the traditional sasi system.

“The sasi practice led by our women’s group has been running for over 20 years. The results not only keep nature sustainable but also gradually improve our community’s welfare,” said Mama Almina Kacili, Head of the Waifuna Women’s Sasi Group from Kapatcol Village.

She shared that sasi has been practiced for generations, but it was always led by men. The strong patriarchal culture often sidelined women’s roles. “In 2008, we observed how men managed sasi. We wanted to do the same. That’s how the Waifuna group was formed, and we were allowed to manage a 32-hectare sasi area,” she explained.

The patience and consistency of Waifuna in managing sasi earned the trust of village authorities, traditional leaders, and the church. The benefits were felt widely, leading to the expansion of their managed area to 213 hectares in 2019. This success also inspired other villages, Aduwei and Salafen, to adopt the same system. In 2022, these two villages formed their own women’s sasi management groups.

Mama Ribka, the head of the Joom Jak Sasi Group from Aduwei Village, explained that sasi enables them to save for various needs, benefiting both their group members and the wider community. “Before we open the sasi, we discuss how the yields will be used. They can be allocated for church needs, education, or community healthcare,” said Mama Ribka.

Sasi: Local Wisdom Driving Social Change

Sasi is a customary system that regulates the use of natural resources by opening and closing access to an area during certain periods, commonly found in Eastern Indonesia. According to Hilda Lionata, Marine Program Manager at YKAN, implementing sasi in these three villages has had a significant social impact, particularly in strengthening women’s roles in decision-making.

“They are no longer shy or afraid to voice their opinions or take part in village decision-making. Previously, they were rarely invited to community meetings and were not vocal in decisions, but now they are always invited as one of the official village groups,” said Hilda.

She added that YKAN has supported the Waifuna women’s sasi group since 2008, providing assistance that includes basic training on the life cycles of the species under sasi (sea cucumbers, trochus shells, lobsters), which form the basis of harvest and size regulations, as well as technical training such as marine life monitoring, safe freediving, and boat operations.

The Bali meeting is expected to strengthen networks and collaboration among women 'sasi practitioners and inspire other regions to integrate gender equity into marine conservation efforts. The experiences of Misool women demonstrate that women’s leadership and local wisdom can work hand in hand to protect nature and the community’s future.

“The experiences of Waifuna, Joom Jak, and Zakan Day affirm that gender equity and marine conservation reinforce each other. When women are given space and recognition, sustainable harvesting practices become more effective, and the benefits are shared more fairly,” concluded Hilda.

On the final day, participants also received training on managing ecotourism run by women’s groups through a direct visit to one of Bali’s ecotourism sites.