THE ROLE OF ECONUSA FOUNDATION IN PROTECTING THE INDIGENOUS PEOPLE’S RIGHTS IN TANAH PAPUA

Abstract

This analysis assesses the role of the EcoNusa Foundation in protecting the rights of Indigenous Peoples (IPs) in the context of Papua, a region rife with problematic rhetoric: on paper, IPs' rights are clearly recognized, but their implementation is still hard to achieve, creating a "state vacuum" that then opens the door to deforestation, natural resource plunder, and the marginalization of indigenous communities. This work tries to answer how the EcoNusa Foundation, as a non-state actor, fills this void and its contribution to the advancement of climate justice. For analysis, the researcher employed a qualitative single-case study methodology, looking at different secondary data from a theoretical thematic perspective. David Lewis's Tripartite Model on the Role of NGOs, the multidimensional principles of climate justice, and the main pillars of Social Movement Theory will be combined and used as a framework to guide the research. EcoNusa's operations were found to be a progressive and mutually supportive combination of its three primary roles. EcoNusa provides direct and tangible support through restorative-sustainable economic development and participatory mapping on the ground. As a catalyst, through targeted policy advocacy and "soft" yet powerful public campaigns, the Foundation promotes systemic change to shift negative narratives. Building extensive partnerships with both civil society and government actors strengthens the Foundation's role as a partner. A deeper study found EcoNusa to be a critical social movement organization, using its framing strategy to bridge local struggles for indigenous peoples' rights with the FOLU Net Sink 2030, Indonesia's national and international commitments. This transforms local demands into strategic solutions for national priorities and creates big-time political leverage. As a result, EcoNusa's work provides an effective and practical climate justice model on the ground by directly addressing the distributive, procedural, and recognition dimensions of indigenous peoples. The conclusion is that the EcoNusa Foundation effectively fills the gap between the state and the people governed, not by replacing it, but by empowering communities and generating the political initiatives necessary for the state to fulfill its constitutional obligations. This research point outs that a rights-based approach that empowers indigenous peoples is not only a must-do but also one of the most effective and essential strategies for achieving a just and lasting future in Papua and Indonesia.