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Aceh Becomes the First Province in Indonesia to Strengthen Formal Agrarian Synergy with the Ministry of ATR/BPN

19 May, 2026 Admin

JAKARTA – The Government of Aceh has made a historic milestone in Indonesia’s national land governance. On Monday, May 12, 2026, the Government of Aceh and the Ministry of Agrarian Affairs and Spatial Planning/National Land Agency (ATR/BPN) officially signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Synergy in Agrarian Affairs, Land, and Spatial Planning. This agreement makes Aceh the first province in Indonesia to establish a formal coordination mechanism for the integrated exchange of spatial data and information with the central government.

The strategic document was signed separately by the Governor of Aceh, H. Muzakir Manaf, in Banda Aceh, and the Secretary General of the Ministry of ATR/BPN, Dalu Agung Darmawan, in Jakarta. This step reflects the Governor’s strong commitment to realizing integrated, sustainable, and transparent Natural Resources (NR) governance.

Accelerating Land Legalization and Business Certainty

Representing the Government of Aceh at the ceremony in Jakarta were the Head of the Bureau of Governance and Regional Autonomy of the Aceh Regional Secretariat, Dr. Bob Mizwar, SSTP, M.Si.; Acting Head of the Aceh Land Agency, Dr. Nizwar, SH, M.Hum; and Acting Head of the Agriculture and Plantation Agency, Dr. Ir. Azanuddin Kurnia, SP, MP.

In his remarks, Bob Mizwar emphasized that this collaboration is key to addressing agrarian disputes and the limited legal status of community land ownership.

“With this Memorandum of Understanding, efforts to accelerate land legalization will have a direct impact on providing greater business certainty for smallholder farmers. It also offers more integrated solutions to agrarian disputes in coordination with the central government, including optimizing the implementation of the Agrarian Reform Object Land (TORA) program in Aceh,” said Bob Mizwar.

Tangible Impact for 1 Million Oil Palm Farmers

The oil palm plantation sector is the backbone of Aceh’s economy, covering 470,826 hectares, or approximately 10% of the province’s total area. Notably, 52% of this land is managed by independent smallholders. The sector potentially supports the livelihoods of more than 1 million people, equivalent to 30% of Aceh’s population.

Through this synergy, the Government of Aceh will accelerate the issuance of the Plantation Cultivation Registration Certificate (STDB) for smallholder farmers. STDB is a crucial instrument for ensuring a sustainable commodity supply chain and compliance with global market standards. Currently, the Government of Aceh is also finalizing a Governor’s Instruction (INGUB) on the Acceleration of STDB Issuance as a technical guideline for all regencies and municipalities.

Commitment to Green Growth

This strategic initiative aligns with Aceh’s long-term vision as outlined in:

  • Aceh Green Growth Master Plan 2025–2045.
  • Sustainable Palm Oil Roadmap 2024–2045 (Aceh Governor Regulation No. 9/2024).
  • Regional Action Plan for Sustainable Palm Oil Plantations (RAD KSB) (Aceh Governor Regulation No. 17/2024).

Previously, Aceh also reinforced its commitment through Governor’s Instruction (INGUB) 08/2025 concerning the restructuring and regulation of licensing in the Natural Resources sector.

Cross-Sector Collaboration

This historic initiative originated from a coordination forum held in August 2025 in Banda Aceh, facilitated by the Sustainable Trade Initiative Foundation (IDH) together with the Aceh Regional Development Planning Agency (Bappeda Aceh). The process was subsequently intensively coordinated by the Sustainable Palm Oil Project Management Unit (PMU-KSB) under the supervision of Bappeda Aceh.

As a follow-up, PMU-KSB together with KEMITRAAN (Partnership for Governance Reform) are preparing the establishment of the Regional Implementation Team (TPD RAD KSB) as well as several strategic Working Groups (POKJA), including:

  1. Land and Farmer Legality Working Group.
  2. Deforestation Monitoring and Grievance Response Working Group.
  3. Sustainable Palm Oil Supply Chain Working Group.

With increasingly stronger synergy between the central and regional governments, Aceh is optimistic that it can realize a plantation industry that is not only productive and legally compliant, but also environmentally sustainable for the welfare of all Acehnese people.

2020

This agreement was signed between Green Climate Fund (GCF) and PARTNERSHIP. This agreement formalizes KEMITRAAN’s accountability in implementing projects approved by the GCF.

For your information, the GCF is the world’s largest special fund that helps developing countries reduce greenhouse gas emissions and increase their ability to respond to climate change.

These funds were collected by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in 2010. The GCF has an important role in realizing the Paris Agreement, namely supporting the goal of keeping the average global temperature increase below 2 degrees Celsius.

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2000-2003

KEMITRAAN played a crucial role in supporting the development of legislation to establish the KPK. This was followed by steps to support the Government and DPR in selecting competent commissioner candidates and also supporting civil society groups to critically monitor the selection process. After the commissioners were appointed, they asked KEMITRAAN to help with the institutional design and initial recruitment of the KPK, as well as play the role of donor coordinator. It is clear that KEMITRAAN plays a key role in supporting the Corruption Eradication Commission to develop the capacity and strategies needed to work as effectively as possible.
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2016

In March 2016, KEMITRAAN received international accreditation from the Adaptation Fund. The Adaptation Fund Board, in its 27th meeting, decided to accredit KEMITRAAN as National Implementing Entity (NIE) from the Adaptation Fund. KEMITRAAN is the first and only Indonesian institution to be accredited as a NIE Adaptation Fund in Indonesia.
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2003

In 2003, KEMITRAAN became an independent legal entity registered as a Non-Profit Civil Partnership. At that time, KEMITRAAN was still a program managed by UNDP until the end of 2009. Since the beginning of 2010, KEMITRAAN took over full responsibility and accountability for the programs and their development.
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1999-2000

The Partnership for Governance Reform, or KEMITRAAN, was founded in 2000 following Indonesia’s first free and fair general election in 1999. This historic election is an important step in Indonesia’s efforts to move away from an authoritarian past towards a democratic future. PARTNERSHIP was established from a multi-donor trust fund and is managed by United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) with a mandate to advance governance reform in Indonesia
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1999-2000

Kemitraan bagi Pembaruan Tata Kelola Pemerintahan, atau KEMITRAAN, didirikan pada tahun 2000 setelah berlangsungnya pemilihan umum pertama di Indonesia yang bebas dan adil pada tahun 1999. Pemilu bersejarah ini merupakan langkah penting dalam upaya Indonesia keluar dari masa lalu yang otoriter menuju masa depan yang demokratis. KEMITRAAN didirikan dari dana perwalian multi-donor dan dikelola oleh United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) dengan mandat untuk memajukan reformasi tata kelola pemerintahan di Indonesia.
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2020

This agreement was signed between Green Climate Fund (GCF) and PARTNERSHIP. This agreement formalizes KEMITRAAN’s accountability in implementing projects approved by the GCF.

For your information, the GCF is the world’s largest special fund that helps developing countries reduce greenhouse gas emissions and increase their ability to respond to climate change.

These funds were collected by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in 2010. The GCF has an important role in realizing the Paris Agreement, namely supporting the goal of keeping the average global temperature increase below 2 degrees Celsius.

Back

2020

This agreement was signed between Green Climate Fund (GCF) and PARTNERSHIP. This agreement formalizes KEMITRAAN’s accountability in implementing projects approved by the GCF.

For your information, the GCF is the world’s largest special fund that helps developing countries reduce greenhouse gas emissions and increase their ability to respond to climate change.

These funds were collected by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in 2010. The GCF has an important role in realizing the Paris Agreement, namely supporting the goal of keeping the average global temperature increase below 2 degrees Celsius.

Back

2016

In March 2016, KEMITRAAN received international accreditation from the Adaptation Fund. The Adaptation Fund Board, in its 27th meeting, decided to accredit KEMITRAAN as National Implementing Entity (NIE) from the Adaptation Fund. KEMITRAAN is the first and only Indonesian institution to be accredited as a NIE Adaptation Fund in Indonesia.
Next
Back

2003

In 2003, KEMITRAAN became an independent legal entity registered as a Non-Profit Civil Partnership. At that time, KEMITRAAN was still a program managed by UNDP until the end of 2009. Since the beginning of 2010, KEMITRAAN took over full responsibility and accountability for the programs and their development.
Next
Back

2000-2003

KEMITRAAN played a crucial role in supporting the development of legislation to establish the KPK. This was followed by steps to support the Government and DPR in selecting competent commissioner candidates and also supporting civil society groups to critically monitor the selection process. After the commissioners were appointed, they asked KEMITRAAN to help with the institutional design and initial recruitment of the KPK, as well as play the role of donor coordinator. It is clear that KEMITRAAN plays a key role in supporting the Corruption Eradication Commission to develop the capacity and strategies needed to work as effectively as possible.
Next
Back

1999-2000

The Partnership for Governance Reform, or KEMITRAAN, was founded in 2000 following Indonesia’s first free and fair general election in 1999. This historic election is an important step in Indonesia’s efforts to move away from an authoritarian past towards a democratic future. PARTNERSHIP was established from a multi-donor trust fund and is managed by United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) with a mandate to advance governance reform in Indonesia
Next
Back