Ministry of Villages Prepares National Strategy to Develop Climate-Resilient Villages

Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Ministry of Villages and Underdeveloped Regions Development (Kemendes PDT) is preparing a national strategy for developing climate-resilient villages as part of strengthening rural development policy in the face of climate change impacts.

“The hope going forward is that this can serve as a guide for anyone involved with villages,” said Director General of Accelerated Development of Underdeveloped Regions (PPDT) at Kemendes PDT, Samsul Widodo, during a Workshop on the Village Climate Risk Index (IRID) Formula as an Additional Incentive for Village Funds in Underdeveloped Regions, held at the PPDT Directorate General offices in Jakarta on Thursday.

He said the strategy is designed to serve as a reference for ministries, agencies and regional governments in integrating climate change mitigation and adaptation aspects into village development planning.

Furthermore, Samsul Widodo noted that various instruments, such as the Village Climate Risk Index (IRID), have already been developed. However, these instruments need to be strengthened so they do not remain merely as data.

According to him, the national climate-resilient village strategy can serve as a policy framework directing the use of village funds to be more responsive to disaster risk and climate change.

Through this national strategy, the government is targeting the creation of villages capable of undertaking mitigation, adaptation, and maintaining rural economic sustainability amid increasing hydrometeorological disaster risks.

Previously, he had advocated for increased village capacity in disaster mitigation and preparedness following the high trend of hydrometeorological disasters directly impacting rural areas.

“What is striking is that 98.33 per cent are hydrometeorological disasters. So, floods, extreme weather, landslides, forest fires, and droughts. The most vulnerable and most at risk are villages,” said Samsul Widodo.

According to him, villages are the most affected by disasters due to the limited alternative livelihood sources available to their communities.

“I always say, if we as Jakarta residents are affected, we still have savings or other resources. But for village people, that is no longer possible. What this means is that they have only one rice paddy, only one garden, only one set of livestock, so they have no alternatives,” he said.