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Over the past 40 years, migration from other parts of Indonesia to West Papua has resulted in the marginalisation indigenous Papuans.

As a result, many indigenous people have moved from their traditional land and lost economic opportunities to migrants.

The majority of small to medium sized businesses in West Papua are now operated by migrants who typically employ other migrants to work for them. This further marginalises the indigenous Papuans.

West Papuans increasingly need livelihood opportunities so that they can generate an income and gain access to vital services, such as education, health care, transport and supplementary food.

UnitingWorld is working closely with our Church Partner to establish livelihood initiatives in small rural communities throughout West Papua. These communities have been nominated by our Church Partner as being most in need of assistance.

Activities include fish farming, cattle fattening, pig fattening and animal farming. Providing local communities with the materials and skills that they need in order to generate an income is proving to be an effective and efficient way to assist local communities gain access to basic services.

The project also involves working closely with local communities to train them in farming and micro-enterprise skills so that they can sustain these projects independently.

With your generous support, this project will empower local communities with the materials and skills they need in order to generate an income, rather than cash, which has  proven to be an effective and efficient way to empower communities to move themselves out of poverty.

2011 Updates

The project has initially focused on fish farming projects. Progress has been slow because of the very complex situation that our partner faces in Papua. Fish enclosures are being built for 50 families, some canoes are being provided as well as training for local people in how to catch and feed fish. This will be followed by basic business training to ensure that families receive the best income possible.

This money can then be used to gain access to education, health care and to expand these farming and business operations within and between communities.

UnitingWorld is working with our partner to develop a church wide program in West Papua. This will involve establishing a Project Officer who will then begin to set up a range of projects.

Initially, cattle and pig fattening projects will be established, each one supporting 40- 50 families.

As these initiatives gain momentum the project will expand to include chickens, agriculture and small microfinance initiatives.

Downloadable resources

Project sheet