In collaboration with the local youth agencies under the Ministry of Youth and Sports,130 young people have initiated innovative and feasible solutions to answer pressing environmental issues through business ideas oriented towards 3P (People, planet, profit). Through this approach, Youth Co: Lab —UNDP Asia Pacific’s youth entrepreneurship initiative to position young people at front and center in order to solve the region’s most pressuring challenges—successfully facilitated enterprises to produce more than 40 sustainable business ideas which then received investments of up to IDR 400 million, employed 340 people, and reached 3,050 beneficiaries

Environmental issues are one of the priorities in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Indonesia. Ranging from large scale deforestation, biodiversity loss, air quality, polluted water, floods, and other issues have become annual environmental challenges in Indonesia. As a large-scale issue, a holistic approach through a collaboration of stakeholders is required.

To help answer this issue, UNDP and Citi Foundation, started a regional initiative focusing on empowering youth to transform their communities through leadership, entrepreneurship and social innovation in 22 different countries including Indonesia. Started in 2018, UNDP Indonesia, Citi Foundation, with the Ministry of Creative and Economy developed support programs named Youth Entrepreneurship Initiative for aspire and pre-seed stage youth entrepreneurs outside Java. Under the Impact Investing window of Innovative Financing Lab, this initiative provides end-to-end solutions for challenges in the ecosystem of youth entrepreneurs outside Java. Ranging from awareness programs in building sustainable business ideas, incubators for pre-seed enterprise, advocacy with related government agencies, UNDP aims to create a platform for young people to be able to create innovations to address social problems including environmental issues through sustainable business that will receive holistic support through strong ecosystem such as policy support from government, mentoring, financing, or other support from private sector.

As a way to Increase youth participation to contribute to the environment is through the creation of Ideathonesia and Youth Co: Lab in Maluku, Kupang and Balikpapan which aims to resolve environmental issues through business.

By gathering young people, this support program helps gather ideas to address environmental issues in different sectors. Youth Co: Lab focus on several sectors such as Tourism (Berdaya Krui), Waste Management (Kepul, Keraton Sampah, Eco Beta), and Oceans and Biodiversity (Bawah Maluku).

In the tourism sector, Berdaya Krui (a social enterprise focusing on Tourism and hospitality in Krui, South Sumatera), successfully helped 500 local beneficiaries through their surf school and resort while advocating to youth and local government with 5,000 surfers in three sectors: education, environment and local business. With an investment of IDR 10 million, they created a youth movement along with local youth for a beach clean-up program and marine conservation education.

Bawah Maluku is one of the first social enterprises in Maluku which aims to increase awareness among locals and tourists about marine diversity. Focusing on empowering local people, Bawah Maluku has trained local fishers and travel agents about marine culture and underwater species. Through their movement, Bawah Maluku aims to build the awareness for local through knowledge sharing and establishing snorkelling guidelines with regard to the marine ecosystem including coral reefs, as well as species that live under the water.

Environmental issues are a priority and involving youth participation is important. By empowering young people through Youth Co: Lab, UNDP directly and indirectly accelerates the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals.

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Writing by Lady Diandra and Yos Rahmatullah

Edited by Ranjit Jose and Suryo Tomi