Balantieng without plastic
South Sulawesi, Indonesia · 2024–2025
The Balantieng watershed in South Sulawesi spans over 20,000 hectares — from lush forests in the uplands to seaweed farms downstream. It supports diverse livelihoods but faces growing pressure: sand mining degrades the riverbed, deforestation worsens flooding and erosion, and household plastic waste accumulates along the banks. When heavy rains come, it drifts onto rice and clove fields, into irrigation channels, and out to the coast. In the AKSI Balantieng program, together with partner organization ECOTON and with support from the UNDP GEF Small Grants Programme, women and youth are stepping forward as leaders of change — applying the proven AKSI Brantas approach to protect their river and build a cleaner future.
Read more about our approach →
The AKSI Balantieng approach
Together with partner organization ECOTON, we applied the AKSI Brantas methodology in the Balantieng watershed — an integrated approach that starts with the problems women experience daily and actively involves youth to monitor, analyse, and take action.
Strengthening the capacity to advocate and participate
Women and youth learned to measure water quality using citizen-science tools and to map polluted sites using GPS. Ten citizen-science workshops were held across six villages — Kahayya, Anrang, Batukaropa, Manjalling, Bontomanai, and Ujung Loe. Students conducted microplastic research and presented their findings to the Bulukumba Regional Parliament (DPRD). Pollution data was shared with the environmental agency DLHK, and communities initiated regular river patrols and informal waste audits.
Strengthening the capacity to organize and propose
Five new women and youth groups were formed and four existing ones revived, all with a clear environmental mission. Groups like KORSA and KMPS lobbied village governments to include waste management in village budgets (APBDes). Four proposals were funded, leading to waste bins, composters, and collection systems in Manjalling, Anrang, Batukaropa, and Kindang. Youth and school groups planted 1,000 trees along riverbanks and advocated for school land use agreements.
Strengthening the capacity to develop green businesses
Women’s groups launched refill stores — SABUKA in Batukaropa and Lestari Refill in Anrang — as sustainable alternatives to single-use plastic. Groups received training on pricing, inventory, and business modeling. Waste banks and composting systems were set up in Batukaropa and Anrang, generating initial income from sorted waste sales. A refill store network was established with bulk purchasing and local supply chains.
Learning together through the AKSI Balantieng Alliance
The AKSI Balantieng Alliance for Women Empowerment connects women’s groups, youth, and schools across the watershed. Groups share tools, training materials, and supplier contacts. Joint advocacy has resulted in circulars and budget allocations for waste management. More experienced groups like KORSA mentor emerging communities, and the Alliance provides visibility in local media and among government stakeholders.
“Before, we just burned our trash. Now we separate and even sell it!” — KORSA participant
What it achieved
“Before this project, we didn’t think we could make a change. Now, our village comes to us for advice on waste.” — KORSA leader
What’s next
The first year has shown what is possible when communities take the lead. In the next phase, we are deepening the work across the watershed: expanding the network of trained groups, strengthening green enterprises, and supporting communities to maintain the changes they have made. The AKSI Balantieng Alliance will be further formalized to increase its visibility, access to funding, and capacity to influence policy. Youth continue to play a central role — as monitors, advocates, and ambassadors for a plastic-free Balantieng.
→ Read the full Balantieng report below.
Support this work
With your contribution, we can train more women and youth, restore more riverbanks, and free more villages from plastic.
Prefer to give directly? You can also donate via our bank account: Stichting Makara – IBAN: NL13 SWNB 1571 2716 57 | BIC (SWIFT): SWNBNL22 (for international transfers).