Growing Confidence, Income, and Solidarity: Women’s Livelihood Programme in Sungai Linau Landscape

The main objective of this programme is to integrate forest protection with efforts to improve the well-being and livelihood of local communities. Its key areas of focus include forest monitoring and protection, peatland restoration, and initiatives to boost local social and economic development. 

One of the programme’s intervention focuses on increasing women’s participation and representation in village-level decision-making while supporting their livelihood. To date, the programme benefits women’s groups from four villages: Bandar Jaya, Sungai Linau, Tanjung Damai, and Sumber Jaya.

With support from the Pusat Pengembangan Sumberdaya Wanita (PPSW) Riau, a non-governmental organisation dedicated to grassroots women’s empowerment, Proforest has implemented livelihood initiatives including a series of gender awareness training and income-generating activities, such as palm stick production and the establishment of women-led VSLAs.

Gender Awareness Training

The gender awareness training aimed to equip participants with practical knowledge and skills to promote gender equality in their daily lives while increasing participants’ awareness and understanding of gender issues. Both men and women from the village participate in the training sessions. This includes representatives of village institutions and representatives from the local community groups. A major focus of the training was to challenge traditional perceptions of gender roles and responsibilities.

The participants discussed gender roles in the family, particularly the stereotype that women are only responsible for domestic work while public work is reserved for men. After critically examining the topic, the participants found that these roles are not always strictly followed in practice. It is very common to see men doing housework, just as it is common to see women engaged in public work. Many women also hold positions as village officials and in village owned enterprises (Badan Usaha Milik Desa: BUMDes). Through this training and discussion, PPSW Riau hopes to foster greater awareness of gender issues from men and women across the targeted villages in everyday life, encouraging individuals to communicate more openly and change their behaviour to become more inclusive and supportive of gender equality.

Income-generating activities

In parallel, the programme introduced two main income-generating activities focused on women: palm stick businesses and the establishment of women-led VSLAs.

Palm sticks production was identified as a promising alternative livelihood through the mapping of local economic opportunities and focus group discussions (FGDs) with representatives from the target villages. Women groups play the role of collectors and processors of the palm sticks. 

The production material comes from the palm leaves waste that are collected during the pruning process. The leaves are then shaved and dried to produce palm sticks that have economic value and can generate additional income. The programme also provided technical training in palm stick production, tools and equipment, as well as storage facilities. 

BUMDes is also involved and act as the local aggregator and market intermediary, linking women producers with the offtaker. To strengthen this function, BUMDes is supported through capacity building on financial record-keeping and introduction to online business practices, enabling them to operate more efficiently and access broader markets.

From the start of production in November 2025 through February 2026, the programme recorded significant growth in the number of producers, production volume, and income. Total monthly production from the four villages increased from 723 kg, generating IDR 2.56 million in income, to 2 tonnes, generating IDR 7.21 million. This represents a 181% increase in production and a 182% increase in income. Over the same four-month period, the number of producers also grew from 22 to 37 people.

Beyond income generation, the activity also empowers and boosts women’s confidence, solidarity, and responsibility through community activities. Another example from the beneficiaries is Ibu Puji from Tanjung Damai Village. She shared that after receiving income from selling palm sticks, she went straight to the market to buy food for her family and school supplies for her children. This is one example of how these activities have empowered people, especially women across the landscape.

Moreover, the women-led VSLA also acted as a safe space for women to share about their daily lives. 

The VSLA provides a space for critical discussion, raising awareness, and increasing solidarity, responsibility, and self-confidence through community-based activities across all 4 groups, each consisting of approximately 20 members. 

It also offers members easier access to loans through a simple application process and lower interest rates of less than 2%, making it lower than commercial lending rates.  These rates, along with all other group rules, are collectively agreed upon by members when the group is established. This reflects a form of empowerment by providing accessible economic opportunities for women, enabling them to become more economically independent and empowered. Within six months after the establishment of these women-led VSLA, each group has accumulated savings ranging from IDR 2 to 5 million.

SLP facilitated by Proforest in collaboration with PPSW Riau represents a step forward in creating alternative livelihoods by empowering local communities. Only through strengthen collaboration with stakeholders are we able to achieve positive outcomes for people, nature, and climate.