Innovative expert engagement scheme rolled out across Indonesia

GBPN projects expand to 11 cities across Indonesia

“HIDUP”, a coalition of champions for sustainable buildings initiated by GBPN in Indonesia, is set to expand its reach by strengthening its presence at the subnational level. The scheme now supports projects in 11 cities across Indonesia. 

This move comes as an increasing number of local governments in Indonesia, including provinces and cities, are adopting sustainable building reforms to curb building sector emissions.

The HIDUP coalition, comprising government representatives, academicians, and private sector professionals, plays a crucial role in ensuring the continuity of building reforms. It serves as a platform for discussing challenges and opportunities, as well as fostering collective action to drive progress in the sustainable buildings sector. 

HIDUP Convenor and GBPN Technical and Special Project Lead in Indonesia, Matthieu Caille, said extending the initiative will enable access across the country. 

“HIDUP has been hugely successful at a national level so this new sub-national version of HIDUP provides a natural expansion that completes our vision for what we hoped the initiative would achieve,” he said. 

“Sub-national HIDUP will allow local initiatives to have access to a coalition of champions continually pushing for progress and ensuring their sustainability. The Sub-national HIDUP in this context serves as a platform to build vision, discuss collaboration and cooperation scheme, and share of responsibility between stakeholders.”   

The HIDUP model for engaging sector experts has been praised by The United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) as a “noteworthy initiative” and a positive example of how to work effectively in Southeast Asia.

HIDUP has also been successfully implemented by GBPN in India, where it is known as JINDA.

Aligning HIDUP and Policy Hub for a sustained reform

In addition to expanding HIDUP’s presence, GBPN aims to align its efforts with the GBPN-led Policy Hub – another stakeholder platform intended to support government engagement. The Policy Hub primarily serves as an inter-ministerial platform for discussing cross-sectoral challenges and collaboration potential. HIDUP is envisioned as its extension, focused on strengthening the initiatives discussed within the Policy Hub.

To facilitate the integrated work of the Policy Hub and HIDUP, GBPN plans to establish a dedicated entity. According to Muhammad Ery Wijaya, GBPN’s Indonesia Country Manager, the importance of this coordinated approach must be emphasised.

“Coordinating the integrated work of the Policy Hub and the HIDUP’s multi-stakeholder green building champions with local presence will lay a strong foundation for GBPN’s long-term efforts in Indonesia,” Mr Wijaya said.

“This ambitious initiative aims to accelerate the adoption of sustainable building practices across Indonesia, while reinforcing the cooperation between various stakeholders to create a greener, more environmentally friendly built environment.”

With HIDUP’s expanded presence at the subnational level and its synergy with Policy Hub, the GBPN-backed coalition is well-positioned to drive significant change in Indonesia’s building sector emissions.