Building Inclusive, Flood-Resilient Community in Samarinda, Indonesia

CHALLENGE

Frequent flooding in Samarinda’s Karang Mumus Watershed, Indonesia, worsened by urbanization, poor waste management, and gender disparities, threatens access to clean water, energy, and overall community resilience.

SOLUTION

The “Embracing the Sun” project develops inclusive public spaces, integrating local input—especially from youth and women—to strengthen flood resilience and promote sustainable community engagement.

OVERVIEW

The “Embracing the Sun” project in Samarinda City, Indonesia, addresses multiple issues in the Karang Mumus Watershed, where flat terrain and low river velocity cause frequent flooding. These floods, sometimes reaching 1.5 meters and lasting for several hours, are intensified by rapid urbanization and inadequate waste management, limiting access to clean water and reliable energy, and increasing social vulnerability.
To tackle these challenges, the project focuses on transforming flood-prone areas into inclusive public spaces that foster resilience and social connection. It aligns with Indonesia’s national Kampung Proklim initiative and includes flood-mitigation structural measures such as retaining walls. Local participation—particularly of youth and women—ensures that interventions address diverse community needs. The project also promotes gender-sensitive approaches to reduce vulnerability and enhance long-term climate adaptation capacity.

DETAILS

The Karang Mumus Watershed in Samarinda city, Indonesia, is a relatively flat area with low river velocity. These flow characteristics, combined with the urbanized nature of the watershed, contribute to frequent flooding, with inundations ranging from 0.3 to 1.5 meters and lasting 3 to 10 hours (Ghozali et al., 2016). The “Embracing the Sun” project area is located in Samarinda city, near the Karang Mumus River, close to a flood-prone area, a local market, and dense settlements. This setting presents complex challenges due to the intersection of flood-related issues such as poor waste management, limited access to clean water, unreliable energy sources, and gender disparities. Additionally, the project location has been proposed by the city government as part of a designated climate change adaptation plan (Kemitraan, 2022).

The “Embracing the Sun” project focuses on climate adaptation, particularly addressing the clean water crisis and flood management. One of its key components is raising awareness and strengthening local resilience through the creation of a public space typology. The project serves as a pilot to integrate public participation and social innovation for local adaptation and resilience against climate change risks. Public participation has not yet been mainstreamed in the policy design process of city governance, making this project a showcase for the benefits of co-developing public spaces at the city level for climate adaptation in Samarinda and other cities in Indonesia.

The original project period from November 2022 to May 2024, was extended to May 2025. The project aims to qualitatively and quantitatively compare conditions before and after project completion, up to two years afterward. Social and environmental impacts on the surrounding area will be monitored, focusing on the community’s relationship with the public space and the degradation or improvement of the environment after construction.

Aligning the project with the city’s future development plan

The Indonesian government launched a national program called “Kampung Proklim” (Climate Village Program) to support its NDC targets. This program aims to kickstart local initiatives for climate adaptation and mitigation across Indonesia. In line with this national program, Samarinda’s city government has implemented its Kampung Proklim program. By collaborating with the city government, the project allows government initiatives to be integrated into its framework. One such initiative involves constructing a retaining wall along the Karang Mumus River as a flood mitigation measure.

Engaging youth for intergenerational learning

The project invites local youth communities to reimagine the market’s fundamental role as an economic hub for the city, bringing a fresh perspective on utilizing public spaces as tools to address climate change impacts. Their perspective aims to draw public attention and involvement to the public space, potentially bridging the gap between strengthening climate adaptation awareness and resilience through information exposure. Additionally, such involvement can boost the community’s sense of belonging to the public space.

Incorporating gender perspectives in public space development

The project highlights social vulnerabilities related to gender issues in Samarinda. To address these issues, the project profiles the community, inviting people based on their proximity to the project area and the local market (Pasar Segiri). A gender-sensitive approach is applied, aiming for 30% female participation and 10% representation from vulnerable groups, which include youth, children, the elderly, and people with disabilities.

Initial surveys and meetings with women and vulnerable groups have sparked discussions about necessary infrastructure. There is a need to establish a comprehensive public space that not only focuses on flood management but also reduces community vulnerability as part of climate change adaptation efforts. Women and children near Segiri Market are particularly affected by flood events, as they face difficulties accessing water, which becomes contaminated by waste left near the market, posing significant health risks.

PROJECT DETAILS

• Location: Samarinda, Indonesia
• Funding: Adaptation Fund
• Grant Amount: USD 824,835
• Duration: 2022 – 2025

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

This article was reported by Faris Salman of the Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (IGES) and draws on the work of Kemitraan and the Adaptation Fund, as detailed in their report “Redefining Public Space as a Solution for the Effects of Global Climate Change in Indonesia’s Urban Areas.” AP-PLAT expresses sincere gratitude to all contributors for their valuable insights.

RELATED INFORMATION

EMBRACING THE SUN: Redefining Public Space as a Solution for the Effects of Global Climate Change in Indonesia’s Urban Areas – Project Report on Adaptation Fund website

Kemitraan Adaptation Fund Project – Samarinda (Kemitraan website)

Ghozali, A., Ariyaningsih, N., Sukmara, R. B., & Aulia, B. U. (2016). A Comparative Study of Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation on Flood Management between Ayutthaya City (Thailand) and Samarinda City (Indonesia). Procedia – Social and Behavioral Sciences, 227, 424–429. DOI: 10.1016/j.sbspro.2016.06.096

Kemitraan. (2022). Embracing the Sun: Redefining Public Space as a Solution for the Effects of Global Climate Change in Indonesia’s Urban Areas. Project Inception Report (PDF).