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.
