Women's Innovation and Participation Proven to Advance Village Economy

“Some village facilitators and I suggested that the BUMDes report should be accountable and shared in the forum. BUMDes should also be inclusive by involving youth, women and people with disabilities in the village. BUMDes will develop if it gets support from village budget or funding," said Yane Irance. 

Yane is a young women who shares creative and innovative ideas to advance BUMDes in Kupang Regency. Before Yane and four other facilitators (Esri Gelda, Elisabeth, Marnix, and Jendro) were village facilitators, their BUMDes did not contribute to the community’s economy. Once trained on GESI (Gender Equality and Social Inclusion) and CVA (Citizen Voice and Action) through the ENVISION program funded by European Union, Yane and four other facilitators were able to activate their village’s suspended BUMDes to successfully contribute to increase Village Revenue (PADes). 

“We consider BUMDes as an important organisation that can grow groups of enterprises in the community and maximize the resources available in the village,” said Yane. She also added that “Our BUMDes has been slowly developed because the BUMDes administrators have limited knowledge on management and supervision of enterprises. Apart from that, there are also strong cultural and social influences on the management of BUMDes in the village.”  

Yane, Esri, Elisabeth, Marnix, and Jendo have endeavored to improve their BUMDes by educating people on its purpose. Thanks to their hard work, their village BUMDes has administrative management and financial accounting that is orderly and accountable and shared at village meetings. The BUMDes has also earned certificates from the Ministry of Law and Human Rights for its performance due to the brilliant ideas and initiatives from these five facilitators.  

"All of our efforts aim to improve knowledge of BUMDes and the importance of participation of all entities in the village to grow the BUMDes, including women, youth and people with disabilities,” said Yane. “In addition, these also provide a better understanding of gender equality that women can also play a significant role as leaders or directors of BUMDes and have power in the decision-making process,”.  

Uniting various entities also makes village BUMDes capable of partnering with other groups that manage local resources. They are no longer selling products or providing services from outside the village. Currently, the BUMDes is building partnerships with Ainan Fen Woven Forum, women groups, youth groups, and groups of people with disabilities. It turns out that the products made by the people in the village are a source of BUMDes profits. Weaving products, handicrafts, virgin coconut oil (VCO), and other processed products are the featured products of BUMDes.  

BUMDes has been trying to grow agriculture sectors by supporting the farmers with cattle, fertilizers and organic farming materials. This program was successfully implemented because BUMDes had develop partnerships with religious leaders and a private business entity in Kupang Regency. One of the BUMDes in Kupang Regency that these womens facilitate is now providing jobs, supporting community needs and increasing people’s income. All this can happen when strong women play their role as village facilitators. 

Author: ENVISION team members in Kupang Regency 

Editor: Mariana Kurniawati (Communication Executive)