18 Nov 2025 4 min read ["pespa"

PESPA: Youth for Sustainable Food Systems in Bandung

"The PESPA Consortium brings together five organizations to transform Bandung's food systems through youth-led capacity building, food journalism training, and community organizing campaigns."

Empowering Communities Through Food Sovereignty

PESPA (PEmuda untuk Sistem PAngan di Kota Bandung / Youth for Food Systems in Bandung City) is a consortium project that mobilizes young people, vulnerable women, and persons with disabilities to build sustainable, equitable food systems in Bandung, Indonesia. Running from early 2025 to July 2025, PESPA represents a collaboration between civil society organizations, research institutions, and grassroots movements committed to food justice.

Our Purpose

Vision

To create a resilient, inclusive, and sustainable food system in Bandung where all community members—especially marginalized groups—have the knowledge, skills, and power to shape food policies and practices.

Mission

PESPA advances food sovereignty through three interconnected strategies:

Capacity Building: Equipping 50+ participants with knowledge about sustainable food systems, climate resilience, and rights-based advocacy
Media Empowerment: Training journalists and communicators to amplify food justice narratives
Community Organizing: Facilitating grassroots campaigns that unite urban poor youth, economically vulnerable women, and persons with disabilities

The PESPA Consortium

Lead Consortium & Donor

Article33 Foundation

Role: Lead Consortium Member

Article33 serves as the lead organization coordinating all PESPA activities, ensuring program coherence, and managing consortium partnerships.

Yayasan Humanis dan Inovasi Sosial

Role: Donor & Funder

Yayasan Humanis dan Inovasi Sosial provides financial support through the Urban Futures program, enabling all PESPA activities. Their funding makes possible the training programs, community campaigns, and capacity building initiatives.

Training & Implementation Partners

Center for Regulation, Policy and Governance (CRPG)

Role: Training Provider

CRPG designed and delivered all PESPA training programs, including:
- Food System Diplomacy Training (FOODS) - 5-day intensive for 50 participants
- Food Journalism Training - 3-day WRI model program for 22 journalists
- MEL & Communications Training - Capacity building for consortium partners

CRPG's expertise in policy research, legal frameworks, and multi-stakeholder facilitation shaped these transformative programs that equipped participants with food sovereignty knowledge, advocacy skills, and institutional capacity.

Supporting Partners

Sinergantara facilitates the five-workshop Food Sovereignty Campaign, specializing in grassroots organizing that brings together marginalized communities for collective action.

Integrated Agriculture and Technology Laboratory (IATL) - Institut Teknologi Bandung contributes scientific knowledge on urban agriculture, sustainable food production, and climate-smart technologies to training curricula.

Our Programs

1. Food System Diplomacy Training (FOODS)

February 19-23, 2025 | 50 Participants

A transformative 5-day intensive training that shifts young people's mindsets about food systems. Participants explore:
- Food system fundamentals and interconnections with climate, health, and justice
- Gender and intersectionality in food access
- Urban food sovereignty and Bandung's challenges
- Diplomacy methods for multi-stakeholder negotiation
- Social business models for food enterprises

Target Participants:
- 25 youth with disabilities
- 25 economically marginalized urban youth and women

Learn More About FOODS Training →

2. Food Journalism Training

WRI Model | 3-Day Program

Professional training for journalists and communicators covering:
- Investigating marine food safety and supply chains
- Reporting on food systems inclusion and FOLU (Forestry and Land Use)
- Urban agriculture and maggot farming practices
- Data-driven food journalism techniques

Impact: 22 journalists trained, creating a media network committed to food justice storytelling.

Learn More About Journalism Training →

3. Food Sovereignty Campaign

May - July 2025 | 5 Workshops | 50 Community Members

A participatory campaign series uniting 2-3 Bandung neighborhoods through:

Workshop 1: Introduction to Food Sovereignty and Shared Challenges
Workshop 2: Building Social Capital and Community Networks
Workshop 3: Rights-Based Advocacy Skills
Workshop 4: Practical Skills for Urban Food Systems
Workshop 5: Solidarity Building and Collective Action Planning

Approach: Rights-based advocacy, participatory methods, and disability-inclusive facilitation.

Learn More About the Campaign →

4. MEL & Communications Capacity Building

March - April 2025

Training consortium partners in:
- Participatory Monitoring, Evaluation & Learning (MEL) methodologies
- Outcome Harvesting for impact assessment
- Communications strategy and tracker systems
- Finance management for community projects

Tools Shared: 11 participatory evaluation frameworks, communications workplans, and monitoring trackers.

Learn More About MEL Training →

Impact at a Glance

By the Numbers

50+ participants in FOODS Diplomacy Training
22 journalists trained in food systems reporting
50 community members in Food Sovereignty Campaign
97 photos documenting activities
11 participatory MEL toolkits developed
5 organizations collaborating across sectors
3 marginalized communities (urban poor youth, vulnerable women, persons with disabilities)

Geographic Focus

Bandung, West Java, Indonesia - A city of 2.5 million where 1/3 of residents are youth, facing:
- Increasing dependence on external food sources
- Food waste challenges from consumptive patterns
- Limited urban agriculture spaces
- Marginalization of persons with disabilities in food access

Our Approach: The Seven Pillars of Food Sovereignty

PESPA's work is grounded in the seven pillars of food sovereignty:

Focuses on Food for People: Prioritizing nutritious, culturally appropriate food
Values Food Providers: Recognizing farmers, urban growers, and informal food workers
Localizes Food Systems: Strengthening local production and short supply chains
Puts Control Locally: Empowering communities to govern food resources
Builds Knowledge and Skills: Sharing traditional and innovative practices
Works with Nature: Promoting ecological agriculture and biodiversity
Collective Advocacy: Uniting marginalized groups for systemic change

Key Achievements

Training Excellence

Developed comprehensive 60-page Food System Diplomacy module
Created facilitator guides for inclusive, participatory workshops
Trained facilitators in disability-inclusive pedagogy

Participant essays capturing personal food sovereignty journeys
Photo documentation of all major activities
Outcome harvesting reports demonstrating behavior change

Network Building

Community resource mapping across Greater Bandung
Cross-community trust-building exercises
Sustainable partnerships between marginalized groups

Looking Forward

PESPA's legacy extends beyond the 2025 program cycle. Participants are now:
- Leading mini-projects in their neighborhoods
- Advocating for inclusive food policies in Bandung
- Training peers in urban agriculture and food co-operatives
- Collaborating across disability, youth, and women's movements

The transformation from training to action is already underway.

Get Involved

For Community Members

Join local food sovereignty initiatives in your Bandung neighborhood. Contact consortium partners for upcoming workshops and advocacy campaigns.

For Journalists

Access training materials and connect with Article33's food journalism network for story support and publication opportunities.

For Policymakers

Engage with PESPA-trained advocates for inclusive food governance consultations and participatory planning processes.

For Funders & Partners

Support the expansion of PESPA's model to other Indonesian cities facing similar urban food challenges.

Contact

PESPA Consortium
Lead by Article33 Foundation

Program Period: Early 2025 - July 2025
Funded by: Yayasan Humanis dan Inovasi Sosial (through Urban Futures program)

Resources

Building sustainable food systems, one community at a time.