Strengthening governance and sustainable food security in north Sumatra through the SIGAP project
Maastricht School of Management – Maastricht University (MSM-UM) is proud to announce the launch of a new RVO-funded initiative: SIGAP – Sinergi Tata Kelola dan Ketahanan Pangan Lestari di Sumatera Utara (Synergy of governance and sustainable food security in north sumatra). The project will run from November 2025 to May 2027 and focuses on strengthening the governance and institutional capacity for sustainable food system transitions in Indonesia.
The project is led by MSM-UM in collaboration with Aeres University of Applied Sciences (the Netherlands) and Indonesian partners IPB University and Institut Teknologi Del. Together, the consortium will support the newly established Badan Otorita Pengelola Kawasan (BOPK) in North Sumatra in translating Indonesia’s 2025–2045 Food Estate Master Plan into practice.
Through a tailor-made Master Plan Training Programme, the project will build the capacity of BOPK staff and key government stakeholders to translate policy frameworks into practice, strengthening their decision-making coordination, and performance planning. The programme combines modules on governance and leadership, policy development, spatial planning and data systems, gender and inclusivity, and value chain innovation.
By applying Problem-Based Learning (PBL), participants will work on real-life challenges within the North Sumatra food system. The project also includes the creation of a multi-stakeholder platform to enhance coordination among ministries, provincial governments, the private sector, and farmer organisations.
The SIGAP project contributes to several Sustainable Development Goals, including SDG 2 (Zero Hunger), SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production), SDG 13 (Climate Action), SDG 5 (Gender Equality), and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals).
With its strong focus on institutional embedding and long-term sustainability, SIGAP is expected to play a key role in supporting Indonesia’s ambitions for food security and resilient agricultural development.
The project will be led by Ms. Gigi Limpens and is funded by RVO and is part of the Orange Corners Program.
MSM's Expert Centre on Emerging Economies
This institutional collaboration project is part of MSM's Expert Centre on Emerging Economies. The department is an expert centre on sustainable private sector development in emerging and developing markets. We capacitate managers and professionals from government, private sector, NGOs, and post-secondary education in Africa, Asia, Middle East, and Latin America. We offer consultancy and customized training programs, and we manage complex projects in key sectors, e.g. water, agriculture and health. For more information click here.
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