Jakarta, 27 August 2026 – The Coordinating Ministry for Food Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) are bringing representatives and stakeholders from Indonesia, Malaysia and Papua New Guinea together in Jakarta for the Regional Learning Forum on Sustainable Commodities on 27-28 August 2026. The event will provide a platform to exchange practical solutions and strengthen cooperation on sustainable commodities, particularly palm oil and cocoa value chains. Over 200 government representatives, development partners, businesses, producer organizations, researchers and youth representatives are expected to attend.

The two-day Forum takes place at a crucial time when farmers and businesses are facing growing expectations from markets for products that are responsibly produced, can be traced to their source, and are better able to withstand climate and environmental pressures. For smallholders in particular, meeting these expectations may bring new opportunities, but also new challenges—from access to finance and technology to meeting changing market requirements.

“This Forum focuses on two important commodities that are strategic not only for Indonesia but also for the region, namely cocoa and palm oil. The central question is how both commodities can be developed sustainably,” said Nani Hendiarti, Deputy for Coordination of Food Affordability and Food Safety, Coordinating Ministry for Food Affairs.

“This meeting will bring forward the experiences and lessons learned from projects carried out through existing collaborations, so that they can inform future development. Even where initiatives are not large in scale, they are expected to deliver real impact for communities. The Forum also underlines the importance of involving smallholders, including farmers and local communities who contribute to the development of sustainable commodities. Experiences from Malaysia and Papua New Guinea will be shared here as well. That is why this Forum is part of regional learning—a space to exchange information, knowledge and experience in order to arrive at best practices, particularly through approaches that engage communities directly,” she concluded.

Global markets are rapidly evolving, and at the same time, smallholders and businesses need support to adapt, improve productivity and remain competitive. For Indonesia, Malaysia and Papua New Guinea, many of these challenges are shared, creating an opportunity to learn from what each country has already tested, identify what can be replicated, and build stronger regional partnerships.

“Sustainable commodity production is no longer only an environmental issue. It is increasingly about economic competitiveness, market access and whether farmers and businesses can adapt to where markets are heading,” said Sara Ferrer Olivella, UNDP Indonesia Resident Representative. “Through our sustainable commodities initiatives, UNDP supports governments and partners to strengthen the policies, institutions, financing and partnerships needed to make this transition possible. Regional cooperation gives us an opportunity to learn from each other, avoid repeating mistakes and turn shared challenges into practical solutions.”

Discussions will focus on sustainable commodity production and trade, including country experiences from Indonesia, Malaysia and Papua New Guinea. Participants will also explore different landscape and ecosystem approaches, smallholder livelihoods, traceability, sustainable finance, public-private partnerships, and the role of women and youth in advancing sustainable commodities.

The Forum is designed to turn regional learning into practical opportunities. On the second day, representatives from the three countries will identify areas for South-South cooperation, while an interactive session with private-sector representatives will provide space to exchange perspectives, explore potential areas of collaboration, and discuss opportunities to collaborate more on sustainable commodity systems.

Participants will also explore how landscape-based approaches can bring together sustainable commodity production, biodiversity protection, climate resilience and community livelihoods, helping address challenges that cannot be solved by producers, businesses or governments working alone.

Transforming commodity systems requires more than individual projects or isolated interventions. It requires countries and partners to work across sectors, align investments and create the conditions for sustainable practices to become the norm,” said Erik Teguh Primiantoro, Senior Advisor for International Cooperation and Environmental Diplomacy, Ministry of Environment, and GEF Operational Focal Point for Indonesia. “GEF is proud to support FOLUR as a platform that brings together governments, communities, businesses and development partners to demonstrate how sustainable commodity production can deliver benefits for both people and the planet.”

The Forum is hosted by the Government of Indonesia in partnership with UNDP, bringing together UNDP-supported programmes on sustainable commodities and landscapes, such as: 

•    Food Systems, Land Use and Restoration (FOLUR) Programme,

•    Sustainable Landscape Program Indonesia (SLPI),

•    Forests, Agriculture and Sustainable Trade (FAST), and

•    Green Commodities Programme (GCP). 

These initiatives are supported by the Global Environment Facility (GEF), the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO), and the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO). The gathering is ultimately about turning shared experience into shared action, building stronger connections across countries and sectors, opening new opportunities for farmers and businesses, and finding practical ways to make sustainable commodities work for people, economies and nature. 

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About UNDP 

UNDP is the leading United Nations organization fighting to end the injustice of poverty, inequality and climate change. Working with our broad network of experts and partners in 170 countries, we help nations to build integrated, lasting solutions for people and the planet. Learn more at undp.org or follow at @UNDP. 

Contact Information: 

Nabilla Rahmani, Head of Communications, UNDP Indonesia 

nabilla.rahmani@undp.org