Empowering Communities: A People-Centered Energy Transition for Socio-Economic Resilience
The project facilitates a just energy transition in North Maluku's nickel mining areas through participatory action research, fostering collaboration, mutual learning, and community-centered solutions
Background
As the world shifts towards renewable energy, the demand for key resources needed to support this transition, such as nickel, has surged. The rising demand for nickel has wide-ranging effects on global supply chains and deeply impacts the communities living and working around nickel mines and smelters, including Indonesia. The expansion of the industry has led to environmental degradation, from deforestation and soil erosion to wastewater contamination, with severe impacts on local communities. Without proper community consultation and participation, industries often neglect the interests of indigenous peoples or communities that have a relationship with the environment they live in (Brockhaus et al. 2014). This has led to a growing momentum for transformation and policy reform.
Approach
The initiative primarily seeks to facilitate a just energy transition to optimise benefits and mitigate adverse effects on communities in nickel mining areas of North Maluku. This project will employ a participatory action research (PAR) approach, wherein research is conducted collaboratively with the city/district administration and the community, facilitating a process of mutual sharing and learning to elucidate and comprehend their situations and challenges. Cornish, F et al. (2023) emphasise that PAR entails the involvement and leadership of individuals facing challenges who engage in actions to effectuate emancipatory social change by doing systematic research to develop new knowledge. Therefore, Dala will serve as a facilitator for a participatory research process aimed at assisting affected communities in identifying the energy transition's impacts on community livelihood capitals and resilience to inform just and inclusive energy transition deliberations at the city/regency level policies and programs.
Dispatches
Seri Refleksi JET Malut 02 - Mematahkan Monopoli Pengetahuan: Catatan dari Pelatihan Penelitian Kualitatif bersama Pemerintah Daerah
Ditulis oleh: Tim ‘Transisi Energi Berbasis Masyarakat untuk Ketahanan Sosial dan Ekonomi’* sebagai bagian dari seri refleksi rutin yang dilakukan tim proyek. Orlando Fals Borda, salah satu perintis Penelitian Aksi Partisipatoris, pernah mengatakan dalam bukunya “Action and Knowledge: Breaking the Monopoly with Participatory Action Research (PAR)” (1991) bahwa atensi PAR tidak sebatas mengumpulkan data dari kelompok/komunitas tertentu, tetapi membangun kapasitas untuk menghasilkan pengetahuan d
Seri Refleksi JET Malut 01 - Menimbang Keadilan dalam Transisi Energi: Suara dari Daerah Penghasil Mineral
Ditulis oleh: Tim ‘Transisi Energi Berbasis Masyarakat untuk Ketahanan Sosial dan Ekonomi’* sebagai bagian dari seri refleksi rutin yang dilakukan tim proyek. Sejak awal tahun 2025, Dala Institute bersama dengan mitra regional eLSiL Kie Raha memulai proses kegiatan dukungan penelitian untuk Maluku Utara terkait dengan pengelolaan mineral transisi yang berkeadilan dan berkelanjutan (Just Energy Transition in North Maluku/JET Malut). Pemilihan fokus dan lokus kegiatan sudah dimulai sejak tahun la