Bacarita Manise: Strengthening Voices of Communities for Inclusive Development in Maluku

The Province of Maluku continues to face serious challenges in achieving equitable development – from poverty to limited access to basic services. Yet hope has emerged through Bacarita Manise, Maluku’s unique version of the Thematic Development Planning Forum that brings together government and civil society, especially vulnerable groups.In this forum, the voices of women, people with disabilities, young people, the elderly, and Indigenous communities are not only heard but also integrated into official planning processes. Their aspirations were captured in Our 10 Hopes – ranging from scholarships in health studies, dormitories for students from small islands, to free health insurance for families in extreme poverty. At the national level, the initiative is coordinated by the Directorate of Families, Parenting, Women and Children (KPPA), Bappenas, and is formally endorsed by the national government. Bacarita Manise demonstrates how community participation can strengthen policy-making and pave the way for inclusive, just, and sustainable development. Read the full story in the booklet.