Implementing FPIC Stakeholder Engagement in Geothermal Projects

Indonesia has enormous potential and challenges in terms of development and renewable energy. Significant developments will necessitate using new energy sources such as solar, water, wind, and geothermal. However, renewable energy production and transition affect, and are affected by, the surrounding population throughout the project's life, including indigenous peoples (IP) many of whom retain deep cultural ties and rely on the natural resources of their home territories. Meaningful stakeholder engagement (SE) is becoming more widely acknowledged as an essential component of social risk management. This is because it assists projects in obtaining a social license to operate and reduces the potential risk of rejection from affected people or criticism from civil society. A good understanding of how enhanced meaningful SE can lead to free, prior, and informed consent (FPIC) and what additional activities and documentation are needed to meet FPIC requirements will help renewable energy projects overcome potential social risks while minimizing compliance risks. A heightened awareness of international good practice on SE and FPIC in the renewable energy sector will also have a spill-over effect in other sectors since many principles, processes, and procedures on meaningful SE and FPIC are similar across sectors. These technical guidelines (TG) aim at assisting development practitioners tasked with the social safeguards of development projects that significantly affect IP and or face major stakeholder risks. The TG can help them implement policy requirements for pursuit of FPIC as a form of enhanced SE