Sub District Empowerment Initiatives in Climate Change Adaptation

Analysis:

Jakarta, the bustling capital of Indonesia, stands as one of the most densely populated cities in Asia. Sprawling across five municipalities and an administrative regency—Central, North, East, West, and South Jakarta, along with the Kepulauan Seribu Regency—it covers a total area of 661.52 km2, featuring approximately 35 km of coastal expanse in the north. However, the city faces significant challenges, especially in the north, where low-lying areas, ranging from 3 to 7 meters below sea level, are susceptible to the impacts of rising sea levels. Additionally, the eastern part of Jakarta, intersected by several large rivers, grapples with the threat of flooding stemming from upstream flows.

In response to these challenges, the Jakarta government has undertaken substantial measures, including riverbed dredging, dam construction, establishment of pump houses in flood-prone zones equipped with mobile pumps, extensive canal construction on the city's east and west sides, and public awareness campaigns on solid waste management. Despite these efforts, the complex nature of climate change adaptation necessitates a more holistic approach to address the urgency at hand.

Within the urban poor communities, there exists an opportunity and capacity for self-management and self-sufficiency. However, a critical gap emerges due to the limited knowledge of local government staff regarding certain urban technical developments and management, coupled with the community's lack of understanding in project management. This underscores the imperative need to bridge this knowledge divide and guide the transition.

A tailored climate adaptation program in the community context becomes imperative. The program envisions striking a balance between community engagement and the supportive role of the government. The central goal is to empower both the community and local government officers in sub-districts to achieve self-sustainability in the realm of climate change adaptation. The program anticipates introducing novel ideas and innovations with the overarching aim of enabling both the community and local government officials to craft and effectively utilize the Local Resilience Action Plan (LRAP). This plan will serve as a comprehensive framework, fostering a pragmatic approach to managing Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) in the short term and climate change adaptation in the long term.

*) This abstract is presented during 2011 World Water Week in Stockholm.