YKAN is inviting eligible firms/entities to submit proposal for the following scope of work:

Project Background

Sasi refers to a customary system of natural resource management in a specific area, both land and sea. Marine sasi describes specific, unwritten rules governing access to fishing grounds, fishing gear, target species, and fishing times and locations (Bailey & Zerner, 1992; Ruddle, 1994). Although there is no specific institution overseeing its implementation, the people of Raja Ampat are highly obedient due to fear of supernatural sanctions if they violate them. They still believe that curses and ill-luck in the form of illness or death will befall them for their disobedience (Boli et al., 2014). Sasi has historically been managed by men.

YKAN has assisted in the implementation of sasi on Misool and Kofiau Islands in Raja Ampat, all sasi areas are in traditional fishing zones with the specific function of zoning sub-sasi KKP areas. As the world's center of tropical marine biodiversity, these islands have a wealth of marine species, including 1,437 species of fish, 699 species of mollusks, and 553 species of hard corals (Allen & Erdmann 2009). This rich biodiversity needs to be protected and utilized sustainably through various management approaches, including sasi, which is commonly applied in eastern Indonesia.

Initially, all sasi groups assisted by YKAN were exclusively male. Until 2014, the Waifuna women's group in Kapatcol, led by a powerful indigenous woman, was granted a sasi site for the first time in Papuan history. Their ownership rights were fully recognized by the village government, the church, and customary law officials. YKAN supports Waifuna to ensure its ecosystem is managed in a healthy and regenerative manner. In patriarchal cultures, women are often excluded from leadership roles. Waifuna's sasi is so successful that the village government expanded its management area from 32 hectares to 213 hectares in 2019. Since 2022, YKAN has replicated this women-led sasi group to other villages, namely the Joom Jak Sasi group in Aduwei village, and the Zakan Day group in Salafen village in North Misool District, Raja Ampat Regency, Southwest Papua Province.

1 Women’s Leadership in Sasi

The role of the Waifuna women's sasi group in Kapatcol has been a significant inspiration for Raja Ampat women in the Misool region to gain confidence in managing marine resources through sasi. The Joom Jak Sasi group in Aduwei and the Zakan Day group in Salafen have begun to take on roles in seeking mandates from customary marine rights holders in Misool to manage marine resources. In Papua, a deeply patriarchal system limits women's ability to exercise ownership rights.

The management of marine areas through the sasi system, led by women, has improved women's leadership skills, both in managing marine areas and in group organization. Women's management of marine sasi has also inspired men to form sasi marga groups, whose members are all male owners of land rights. These sasi marga organizations also utilize women's sasi groups as role models in sasi area management.

2 Exchange-Learning

In this program, YKAN facilitated three women's sasi groups in Misool to share experiences. This activity was designed as a shared learning space, where the three groups could exchange knowledge, experiences, and best practices in marine sasi management and strengthen group institutions.

Through this cross-learning approach, participants can learn directly from other groups' experiences regarding sasi governance, group organizational dynamics, strengthening women's leadership roles, and strategies for maintaining the sustainability of community-based conservation activities. This horizontal learning approach is expected to strengthen networks among women's sasi groups, increase group members' self-confidence, and encourage collaboration in sustainable marine resource management.

This activity also serves as a means of collective reflection to identify challenges, opportunities, and needs for strengthening the capacity of women's sasi groups in Misool going forward.

Objectives/Purposes of the Assignment:

YKAN is seeking a qualified Consultants to hold the series of learning exchange events of women led sasi groups from Raja Ampat.

For further details on the Scope of Work, please refer to the Terms of Reference available attached

IMPORTAN TIMELINES. The proposal submission deadline is listed on this page. Proposal submitted after the deadline will not be considered.