Letter to the GCF Board: Concern and objection to the FP248 Land-based Mitigation and Adaptation through a Jurisdictional Approach in West Kalimantan proposed by GIZ

Dear GCF Co-Chairs, GCF Board Members at the 40th GCF Board Meeting in Songdo:

Through this joint letter, we, the following NGOs in West Kalimantan, namely Walhi West Kalimantan, AMAN West Kalimantan, Institut Dayakologi, Elpagar, Lembaga Bela Banua Talino (LBBT), LBH Angsana, Lembah, and Link-AR Borneo, are concerned about the Project Proposal prepared and submitted by GIZ to the 40th GCF Board Meeting in Songdo on 21-24 October 2024 based on the following deliberation:

First, GIZ encourages expanding the palm oil business and its supply chain through the Project Proposal by increasing the forest/land clearing space. We consider this contrary to climate change mitigation and adaptation efforts in the West Kalimantan Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities (IPLC) territories in the five target areas for the Proposal implementation.

Second, GIZ supports Indigenous peoples and local communities in obtaining land use rights in the proposed project implementation plan, which contradicts the nature of IPLCs. Instead of strengthening their customary land rights, the land use rights scheme puts IPLCs in a weak position and negates their customary rights since it is about borrowing and using the living space and tenure they have controlled for generations. IPLCs are not placed at the centre for recognition or protection of their rights as parties who should receive the more significant portion of the benefits from the project proposal. 

Third, the presence of GIZ with its previous projects in West Kalimantan is problematic. A complaint submitted to GIZ based on investigations of its track records by several CSOs in the field has not been resolved to date (a 2018 civil society organisations complaint letter is attached).

Fourth, in preparing the proposal by GIZ to GCF, there was an indication of misappropriation of the names of several organisations. We, who were mentioned in the project proposal, never felt involved or involved in preparing the GCF project proposal. In addition, the project proposed by GIZ could cause conflict between CSOs in West Kalimantan, whose organisations are listed in the GIZ proposal. 

Based on the above points, we declare that we have never been involved, object to, and strongly reject the method used by GIZ and the submitted Project Proposal. We hope that the GCF Board Members will take firm steps not to approve the project proposal submitted by GIZ.

Thus, this letter of objection and rejection is submitted with full awareness without any coercion from any party. We greatly hope that it can be a serious consideration for GCF so that unacceptable methods by GIZ are not repeated.

Sincerely, 

HENDRIKUS ADAM
Direktur, Walhi Kalbar

T O N O
Ketua, AMAN Kalbar

KRISSUSANDI GUNUI’
Direktur, Institut Dayakologi

FURBERTUS IPUR
Direktur, Elpagar

NORMAN JIWAN
Ketua, LBH ANGSANA

TRIPONIA ERNY
Direktur, LBBT

STEPANUS ROBIN
Direktur, LemBAH

AHMAD SYUKRI
Ketua, Link-AR Borneo

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NOTE: Indonesian CSOs, who are part of the observer network, circulated this letter to Board members, alternates, and their advisors prior to the 40th Board Meeting of the Green Climate Fund (B.40). A letter was also sent by Indonesian CSOs to the accredited entity, GIZ Indonesia, on October 2018 to address their concerns on the funding proposal.