The MADANI project is an initiative funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) that works across 32 districts and cities in Indonesia to strengthen government accountability and enhance the capacity of civil society organizations (CSOs) to achieve social change. MADANI has used inclusive development models and a collaborative governance approach to bring citizens together to identify issues affecting their well-being and livelihoods, including solid waste management and maternal and child health. To help develop and carry out solutions to selected issues, MADANI provides grants and technical assistance to subnational CSOs and works with the CSOs to lead the implementation of innovative solutions.

Environment and climate change focus

To address practices of managing solid waste, MADANI brought together CSOs, local government officials, businesses, higher education staff and community leaders in four districts to hold public deliberations on the issue. In Palopo, the CSOs participating in the MADANI project developed a recycling solution, leading the city to win a national sanitation award under the sustainability category and resulting in improved capacity for local organizations to undertake waste management work.

The project’s activities have resulted in more and strengthened partnerships between local governments and CSOs. Local governments now regularly include CSOs in government planning processes and consult with CSOs for technical advice on key aspects of policy development and implementation.