Live-In Mataloko: Preparation of LRP, CDP, and CSR PLTP Mataloko

Starting from a call from Managing Director from one of the consulting offices, inviting me to collaborate in? the Livelihood Restoration Plan (LRP) and Community Development Program (CDP) ?document preparation programs? for PT. PLN (Persero) UIP Nusa Tenggara for the Construction of Geothermal Power Plants (PLTP) in Mataloko, Ngada Regency, East Nusa Tenggara Province. I received the invitation for collaboration well and after that we held many online and offline meetings to prepare for work as well as secondary and primary data needs needed for the preparation of the document. At first, I did this job as a side task. But in the course of compiling the document is increasingly complex and complicated. Finally I decided to resign from my main job at one of? the International NGOs (International Non-Government Organization) based in South Africa and the UK. Starting to focus as a coordinator for the preparation of LRP and CDP documents which are integral documents with the Land Acquisition and Resettlement Action Plan.

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The implementation work of preparing LRP and CDP documents began with coordination and meetings to get an initial picture of current field conditions. This LRP activity is prepared as a form of government and company responsibility to the affected communities (including vulnerable groups) of the Mataloko PLTP development. The affected communities will get compensation from the government and companies for land, plants, and buildings around the Mataloko PLTP Development project. There are 45 heads of families who are directly affected and are in ring 1 of the Mataloko PLTP development. The heads of these affected families will be compensated for the land, crops, and buildings taken voluntarily by the government and the Company. So that in the process of taking land, plants, and buildings using the principle of? FPIC (Free, Prior and Informed Consent). Where the heads of families affected by the project are invited to discuss and get socialization from the Mataloko PLTP project team. After being consulted and socialized, all heads of families were asked voluntarily and consciously to sign the minutes of support for the construction of the Mataloko PLTP project and receive all compensation given to them.

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In addition to getting compensation for land, crops, and buildings taken by the government and companies, the community also receives assistance as well as guidance to regain the main source of livelihood or Sustainable Livelihood in a new place. The community will be guided and supervised directly by a team of community empowerment experts appointed by the Company for several years. This assistance and guidance on Sustainable livelihoods is expected to minimize the possibility of affected communities experiencing loss of income and livelihood of Lestari so far as before the project was carried out. This policy is carried out as a form of compliance with human rights and laws that apply internationally and nationally. So that the affected communities voluntarily support the National Strategic Project (PSN) and hand over their ownership which includes the affected land, plants, and buildings voluntarily so that there is no conflict and the community gets compensation as well as assistance for several years to ensure that their conditions do not fall into poverty.

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To support existing documents, field visits and live-in with the community in Mataloko. We usually know Live-In activities or other better-known terms are Participative Rural Appraisal or PRA. The field visit will be planned and carried out for 11 days and will be accompanied / assisted by a field team that has been on duty first at the site. We will conduct social, economic, and environmental assessments and studies on affected communities in circle 1 (5 kilometers from the midpoint of the Mataloko PLTP) and also communities in circle 2 (10 kilometers from the Mataloko PLTP). Communities located at the Wellpad A-D, Laydown, and Access Road Development sites are the top priority to be surveyed and interviewed using? ?existing tools. This social study activity is also part of the social impact assessment caused by the Mataloko PLTP project. This activity will see/assess directly the condition of the community after getting benefits, especially social conditions and sustainable livelihoods.

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The first day I coordinated with the field team and stakeholders including PLN Engineering (PLN-E), PLN UIP Nusra, and Golewa sub-district. This is the first offline coordination with companies and governments at the sub-district level. Of course, before that, coordination with the field is carried out first to get input and a clear picture of the current situation, project status, and the data needed to fully support the preparation of the final stage of LRP and CDP documents. Meanwhile, at the same time, environmental monitoring and biological conditions were also carried out in the ring 1 project area. This first day's activity was more coordination and provided initial capacity strengthening before going into the field to conduct surveys and interviews for field team friends. While finalizing the agenda of the second day that has been planned in advance and maturation before entering the community.

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The second day we visited the Ulubelu Village office to meet with Assistant 1 of Ngada Regency, Head of PUPR Office, Head of Disperindag Office, Golewa Sub-District, PT Cipta Bangun Nusantara, Polri-TNI, Head of Ulubelu Village as well as community leaders and customary stakeholder institutions. This day also took place with a national pillar planting event (stake) customarily at the Wellpad A and D locations. The pillar planting event began with local traditional events and rituals by traditional leaders with pig slaughter and blood used to coat each peg to be used. While asking for prayers to the ancestors so that the activities of the national strategy project in their village run smoothly and avoid danger and horizontal conflicts. The four of us immediately conducted a field visit to see the soil stakes that will be installed at the Wellpad D location with all stakeholders. Light rain, cold air plus a fairly thick fog accompanied us in carrying out field work. There was a small commotion, but it did not interfere with the planting of pegs. The location of wellpad D also has an existing PLTP that is no longer operating. The existing PLTP will be merged with the construction of wellpad D. on the sidelines of pillar planting activities, we also held discussions with several heads of affected families and village officials who were directly involved in the LRP and CDP processes. Several forms of data? and information have begun to be collected in accordance with the needs of monitoring and evaluation of the impacts that occur and collecting resources that can be used as recommendations for LRP and CDP in Mataloko.

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The third day we continued our observation and survey trip to Tiwotoda village. At the village office we conduct meetings with key stakeholders who have been contacted. We again met with Assistant 1, Golewa sub-district, and Tiwotoda village head together with traditional stakeholders and community leaders. Today's activity is not much different from the previous activities, namely ceremonial and ritual activities of planting national pillars by the chairman there and witnessed by local stakeholders. This event was designed to ask for prayers and mutual agreement so that the National Strategic Project (PSN) in their village runs smoothly and without horizontal conflicts. Not to forget also the slaughter of pigs which is used as a symbol of agreement with residents. This activity becomes local wisdom carried out by local residents to be an agreement and not interfere with each other. This activity is carried out to be a common concern for all villagers and key stakeholders. In between, we also conducted interviews and met directly with land, plant, and building owners who were directly affected and benefited. Looking at the conditions they are currently experiencing as well as what has been done with the money they receive. Listen directly to their opinions and their suggestions directly for LRP and CDP programs.

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One of the interviewees had expertise in woven plastic and bamboo. This mother is indeed old and lives with her disabled child. Initially, their lives before PSN were very poor and unfit to live in houses, dirt floors and wooden walls. But after making a profit, she can build a decent house and save money for the future and treat sick and disabled children. In addition, the money received is also bought for productive needs such as buying livestock and land back. Some are used for their own customary purposes. In addition to farming and raising livestock, this mother also fills her free time by making crafts from woven bamboo and plastic. Of course this is great for supporting LRP and CDP from affected communities (including vulnerable groups).

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On the fourth day, we returned to the Dadawea village office and met with all village officials, RT leaders under the auspices of the village, schools in ring 1 villages, traditional stakeholder institutions, and community leaders. The village we visited was also in order to plant national pillars with local ceremonies and rituals. The goal is also the same so that the PSN in their village can run smoothly, orderly, and safely on schedule. I limited field activities before 12:00 because I had to perform Friday prayers at the great mosque of Al-Ghuraba "Baiturrahman" in Bajawa, Ngada. The mosque is quite far from the PSN location and must be carefully calculated. Tolerance is also high in this Ngada district. Although the majority are Catholics, the Muslim community is still safe and secure in carrying out their worship. Even the mosque where I pray is right next to the church. My field team also conveyed the same thing and indeed the majority of migrants and traders are in Bajawa. Bajawa itself means "Javanese Plate".

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After Friday prayers, I immediately returned to the location for the next agenda, which was lunch with the residents. This special lunch together is divided into 2 different places and cooking chefs. One for halal food, especially those who are Muslim and 1 more non-halal for residents of the surrounding community. We feel a strong sense of kindship and togetherness with the community in differences but framed by tolerance between religious believers. After lunch, it was followed by direct interviews with the head of Dadawea village, the chief of Golewa sub-district and also several heads of families who received compensation or benefit from the government and companies. I was assisted by a local field team to do the same in several places and people directly at the village office. See firsthand the activities of citizens and all related information. Including the team from PLN also get a special portion for live on-the-spot discussions. After completing all observation, survey, and assessment activities today, in the evening we conducted a briefing and coordination with PLN and the field team. We also had guests from the field team and social experts from the same PSN but in Manggarai district.

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Entering the fifth day, I continued to visit the Radabata village office and the village chief's house. We had open discussions and direct interviews with the village chief. Uniquely, the father of this village head was previously the chairman of BPD Radabata. 8 months before being elected as village head, he was one of the community leaders who rejected the presence of the Mataloko PLTP. Thus causing protests and riots with the community after the rejection. He was a key figure in rejecting PSN. On the way, he was approached and discussed while explaining in more detail the position and long-term benefits of the Mataloko PLTP. It is not easy and requires special skills in order to be well accepted by contra community groups. This is the principle that FPIC will apply to those who contract. The principle of FPIC is to approach minority and majority groups who reject a project that exists and will be carried out in their place. After being elected and successfully convinced, he is now one of the key figures who supports PSN until now to install a body to guard it. It is very interesting the social dynamics that exist in this society.

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After completing interviews in several houses of affected residents, in the afternoon we conducted a review and follow-up briefing with a team consisting of PLN, CBN, and field teams. Discussing the results of today's activities as well as preparing the next agenda according to the plan that has been made. The meeting we held was more devoted to preparing all PSN development materials. The material we will make will be used as dialogue material with the regent of Ngada regency the next day. The data collected and documents from each team will be compiled according to tupoksi (main tasks and functions). Then it is agreed that important and sensitive information must be submitted at the forum. The meeting took a little longer because there was a slight difference in responding to the material to be delivered. Then I entered to lead and direct the team to select and finalize the draft material that had been made. The material to be delivered is in accordance with the signs of each Company and the authority given to them. So that there is no authority that exceeds the authority of the leader who makes decisions. I do this so that there is no difference in methods and information when going to dialogue with regional heads. I do this according to my experience so far when meeting with regional heads both city / regency and province.

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The agenda of the sixth day's activities was to conduct a visit and FGD with friends from the village assistants of the Ministry of Villages and Development of Disadvantaged Villages in NTT. This activity is carried out together with provincial level experts and shares information about their respective existing activities. This meeting also discussed the possibility of collaboration between each party to support the LRP and CDP documents that we are preparing and finalizing for the Mataloko PLTP. Alhamdulillah, this was welcomed and began to explore the possibility of technical follow-up such as sharing data and coordination with village field assistants and existing village assistants that have been running in Golewa District. From noon to evening, in-depth discussions and sharing were continued with the team from Manggarai regency which also has a PSN, namely the Ulumbu PLTP. The discussion began with techniques carried out by the field team when conducting FPIC and asking for community support. The success of the field team in Mataloko will be used as a reference for the field team in Ulumbu with a larger number of 10 people. While the field team in Mataloko is only 3 local residents. The experience that has been carried out in several countries in LRP and CDP activities is also a reference, especially the similarity of projects carried out and support from world financial institutions.

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We were invited by the Regent of Ngada to discuss the development of PSN in Golewa sub-district. We were invited together with PLN and CBN to attend the pendopo or the regent's official house. The regent himself was accompanied by Assistant 1, the head of the PUPR service, the head of the Disperindag service, the Golewa sub-district, and the field team. CBN directly invited Commissioners and President Directors to attend directly from Jakarta. This is in a series of conducting stakeholder coordination. In a discussion framed with a semi-formal event, we were asked to explain the progress of PSN from each important party. We also ask for support from the regent and his staff so that PSN runs on time and is immediately enjoyed by the community in the specified year. Our presence was greeted with enthusiasm and also interspersed with humor by the regent. In fact, he really wants this PSN to be completed soon and contribute to development in his area. The regent also wants all parties to support PSN because not all regions get it. As part of the island of Flores which has great geothermal potential, making all regions on the island of Flores get positive benefits for the regional economy.

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After leaving the regent's office, my field team and I again met with the head of Dadawea village to prepare for additional FPIC activities for CDP. This follow-up activity will be carried out by all affected villages including ring 1 villages. Dadawea village will be the first village to conduct additional FPIC activities for CDP. The successful implementation of these activities will be an evaluation and reference to be applied to other villages. This meeting is a series of LRP and CDP activities that are aligned with the roadmap of corporate social and environmental responsibility (CSR) programs. Preparation of places and tools and methods that will be used in FPIC activities with the results of contributions from residents for programs that need to be carried out together with all village parties and communities. This activity is also very crucial to ensure the sustainability of PSN so that the community begins to benefit, especially people who are in ring 2 of PSN activities. Mitigating the social jealousy of the people in ring 2 to the people who received compensation and also CDP. Pay close attention to the potential conflicts that occur if late in the implementation of CDP activities because the construction and operation and distribution of the Mataloko PLTP are relatively long.

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On the eighth day we conducted FPIC activities at the Dadawea village office and invited stakeholders according to the direction of the village head. All RTs in the village follow today's agenda. Then representatives from schools, traditional stakeholder institutions, community and religious leaders, village assistants, non-governmental organizations, cooperatives, BUMDes, and BPD officials. The activity began with remarks and direct direction from the village head. Then direction from the activity facilitator and also accompanied by a technical field team. Each representative gets the opportunity to convey his aspirations as needed. The community is directed to convey the priority of the program that needs to be carried out and escort in the field. The activity took place from morning to evening and made minutes that were immediately mutually agreed upon by FPIC event participants in addition to CDP. The activity went smoothly and there was a lot of input from participants and accommodated by mutual agreement. This also makes participants feel involved and actively participate in the activity. After the activity at the village office, we immediately conducted several interviews directly with the village head of Tiwotoda, Ulubelu, and the village head of Wogo. In-depth interviews with key figures from each affected village were conducted to obtain more detailed and complete information for the needs of LRP and CDP final documents. The interview is conducted according to the appointment schedule that has been made in advance so that each cadet can prepare the materials we need. This activity just finished at night from Wogo village. We get a lot of information and direct needs represented / added by each village head. Of course, the results obtained will enrich the documents that will be finalized and sent to the German Development Bank as the Creditor for the construction of the Mataloko PLTP.

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On the ninth day, my field team and I began to finalize all the data that had been collected, processed, and analyzed together. All the data we obtain is then inputted manually by the field team. Start sorting out data and information that is not appropriate or needed. In this finalization stage, we also carry out stakeholder re-identification activities before and after the assessment is carried out. This activity also helps friends recognize and mitigate potential conflicts that exist in the community when on duty in the field to retrieve data and implement activities. All records owned by field officers are then compiled and validated for validity so as not to bias the information. Revise all narratives that have been written as well as conducting research with qualitative-description methods. The results of observations, surveys with fill-in forms, open interviews and all tools or data collection techniques that have been carried out by field officers are primary data needed to complete all secondary data. 1 full day we do activities indoors together to check data and information. All documentation both photos, videos, and village profile documents / RKP are collected or put together. All written and unwritten documents are the source of information included in LRP and CDP documents. LRP and CDP are also materials for the preparation of the Roadmap for the Social and Environmental Responsibility Program of PT PLN (Persero) UIP Nusa Tenggara.

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Today I am going to Labuan Bajo (West Manggarai Regency) via Soa airport, Ngada regency. I use an ATR aircraft owned by Wings Air with the duration of travel time to Labuan Bajo is 1 hour 30 minutes in the air. This was my first experience to Labuan Bajo. The main task to Labuan Bajo is to meet with the PT PLN (Persero) UIP Nusa Tenggara team as the project owner. This meeting is in order to coordinate and synchronize LRP and CDP documents that have been made for the approval process to be raised to the LRP, CDP, and TJSL program guidelines for the company. I deliberately inserted an additional special document, namely the TJSL Road Map which is really needed by UIP Nusa Tenggara friends. This TJSL Roadmap document will intersect with UIP Nusa Tenggara CSR program. UIP Nusa Tenggara's CSR programs include the Education Pillar, Environment Pillar, MSME Development Pillar, and Supporting Programs. The Company's supporting programs are handling stunting, clean water sanitation, health improvement assistance, and village public facilities supporting social, environmental, and economic support.

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The result of the meeting resulted in positive results for me and the team. From the results of discussion and sharing for 4 hours, the PLN UIP Nusa Tenggara team approved and allowed the documents that had been made to go to the next stage. Of course this is good news for all of us because the work for several months is in line with client expectations. Moreover, we also provide additional services in the form of TJSL Road Map documents that they can use in the next few years. The approval that had been obtained then marked the completion of my 11-day field work on Flores Island. This positive result is certainly a good record for us who have struggled with all the field dynamics faced during the process of data collection and document preparation. Deep gratitude and also gratitude to all stakeholders who have helped the entire process from arrival in Ngada Regency to return to Jakarta. Hopefully this will be a long-term document that will be used for the implementation of the company's CSR programs and provide benefits to all communities in need.

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On July 21, 2023 and Friday I returned to Jakarta from Komodo International Airport. Done was my field assignment and synchronization of LRP and CDP documents. It's time to complete the last whole process which will be submitted to Central PLN to be used as the company's official document to foreign cooperation partners. I am very happy to be a part of this great work. Of course this will all be an additional competence and can also be applied to other companies and NGOs. I will certainly be very open to anyone who wants to use my services and team to do the same with the terms and conditions applicable as part of compliance with applicable laws in Indonesia and internationally.