Indigenous Rights Violated in East Kalimantan’s REDD+ Jurisdictional Pilot Project: World Bank and Indonesian Government Face Accountability Calls 

Civil Society Organisations call for the World Bank to stop providing the Indonesian government with money from the Carbon Fund until indigenous peoples' complaints are resolved.  

East Kalimantan, Indonesia—November 2024 

Civil society expresses serious concerns over the safeguarding of indigenous peoples’ rights within East Kalimantan’s REDD+ Jurisdictional Emission Reductions Pilot (EK-JERP), funded by the World Bank. Despite commitments to prioritize indigenous rights, the project’s design and execution are under scrutiny for marginalizing Dayak Bahau indigenous peoples.  

The EK-JERP’s goal is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by promoting sustainable forest and land management practices. However, the project has failed to effectively recognize and respect the Dayak Bahau’s rights, specifically their right to Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC).  

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Indigenous groups have reported that they were not meaningfully involved in the project’s design or consulted in a way that respected their decision-making processes. Exclusion from the Benefit Sharing Plan further prevents them from accessing funds intended to reward sustainable land stewardship. 

Systemic Barriers to Indigenous Inclusion 

The EK-JERP’s Benefit Sharing Plan stipulates that indigenous communities must possess a legal personality to qualify for benefits—a requirement that is inaccessible to many due to bureaucratic barriers.  

 

“Indonesia mandates that indigenous peoples’ “existence” must be officially certified through government regulations or decrees, creating a significant barrier to securing legal recognition and associated rights. Though the EK-JERP includes indigenous recognition as a key component, East Kalimantan’s government has only granted legal status to a limited number of indigenous groups” explains Martha Doq, Director of indigenous rights NGO Perkumpulan Nurani Perempuan (PNP).  

 

PNP have been supporting Dayak Bahau peoples in Mahakam Ulu district for over a decade. The experience of one community, Long Isun, exemplifies the challenges inherent in this system.  

 

“Since 2018, local Dayak Bahau have made multiple attempts to obtain legal recognition. However, despite existing regulatory frameworks, the district government has repeatedly delayed and stalled their requests, exacerbating uncertainty over their rights and increasing the risk of displacement from their ancestral lands” says Angus MacInnes, Project Officer for Indonesia at Forest Peoples Programme.  

 

Formal Complaint and Government Intimidation 

In March 2024, a coalition of 19 civil society organisations filed a complaint with the World Bank’s Grievance Redress Service (GRS) - an entry-level grievance mechanism, presenting evidence of discriminatory obstacles preventing Dayak Bahau’s recognition and access to their customary rights.  

Following this complaint, the Indonesian government reportedly attempted to coerce the Dayak Bahau into consenting to EK-JERP under the threat of intimidation and reprisal.  

Despite the World Bank’s stated zero-tolerance policy on retaliation, the GRS has yet to provide a satisfactory response from either the Indonesian government or the World Bank, prompting further concern for the safety and autonomy of indigenous communities within the project area. 

Today, these concerns were brought directly to the United States Department of the Treasury, one of the largest shareholders in the World Bank. In response to these allegations, Jeff Baker, U.S Treasury Director for MDB Development Results and Accountability, said: 

 

“We are big supporters of escalating this complaint to the Inspection Panel”, (an independent body that conducts in-depth investigations and reviews compliance with the Bank’s operational policies), “and fully support indigenous peoples using that mechanism for redress to these issues”. He noted, however, that complainants may encounter a different reception from World Bank staff should Long Isun pursue this route. 

 

A Call for Systemic Change 

 

“The Dayak Bahau of Long Isun are calling on the [World] Bank to implement formal measures that address the systemic lack of recognition of our land rights.” said Tekwan Yeq, a Human Rights Defender from Long Isun.  

 

In light of ongoing inadequate protections currently afforded to Dayak indigenous peoples in the EK-JERP, immediate and systemic actions are needed to protect their rights and address community grievances.  

A key step is halting further disbursements from the World Bank's Carbon Fund to the government of Indonesia until Long Isun’s complaint is resolved.  

To prevent reprisals, it is imperative for the World Bank adhere strictly to its zero-tolerance policy on retaliation, potentially by elevating this complaint to the Inspection Panel (the World Bank's global redress mechanism) to conduct a comprehensive risk assessment and on-site evaluations.  

 

“The establishment of mechanisms for direct access to the Carbon Fund and increased financial and technical support for indigenous rights recognition would lay the groundwork for future, more equitable climate finance programs in Indonesia. Through these measures, the World Bank can begin addressing the systemic issues highlighted in the EK-JERP and promote a more inclusive, rights-based approach in its climate initiatives.” concluded Matha Doq.