JAKARTA – The Government of Aceh has made a historic milestone in Indonesia’s national land governance. On Monday, May 12, 2026, the Government of Aceh and the Ministry of Agrarian Affairs and Spatial Planning/National Land Agency (ATR/BPN) officially signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Synergy in Agrarian Affairs, Land, and Spatial Planning. This agreement makes Aceh the first province in Indonesia to establish a formal coordination mechanism for the integrated exchange of spatial data and information with the central government.
The strategic document was signed separately by the Governor of Aceh, H. Muzakir Manaf, in Banda Aceh, and the Secretary General of the Ministry of ATR/BPN, Dalu Agung Darmawan, in Jakarta. This step reflects the Governor’s strong commitment to realizing integrated, sustainable, and transparent Natural Resources (NR) governance.
Accelerating Land Legalization and Business Certainty
Representing the Government of Aceh at the ceremony in Jakarta were the Head of the Bureau of Governance and Regional Autonomy of the Aceh Regional Secretariat, Dr. Bob Mizwar, SSTP, M.Si.; Acting Head of the Aceh Land Agency, Dr. Nizwar, SH, M.Hum; and Acting Head of the Agriculture and Plantation Agency, Dr. Ir. Azanuddin Kurnia, SP, MP.
In his remarks, Bob Mizwar emphasized that this collaboration is key to addressing agrarian disputes and the limited legal status of community land ownership.
“With this Memorandum of Understanding, efforts to accelerate land legalization will have a direct impact on providing greater business certainty for smallholder farmers. It also offers more integrated solutions to agrarian disputes in coordination with the central government, including optimizing the implementation of the Agrarian Reform Object Land (TORA) program in Aceh,” said Bob Mizwar.
Tangible Impact for 1 Million Oil Palm Farmers
The oil palm plantation sector is the backbone of Aceh’s economy, covering 470,826 hectares, or approximately 10% of the province’s total area. Notably, 52% of this land is managed by independent smallholders. The sector potentially supports the livelihoods of more than 1 million people, equivalent to 30% of Aceh’s population.
Through this synergy, the Government of Aceh will accelerate the issuance of the Plantation Cultivation Registration Certificate (STDB) for smallholder farmers. STDB is a crucial instrument for ensuring a sustainable commodity supply chain and compliance with global market standards. Currently, the Government of Aceh is also finalizing a Governor’s Instruction (INGUB) on the Acceleration of STDB Issuance as a technical guideline for all regencies and municipalities.
Commitment to Green Growth
This strategic initiative aligns with Aceh’s long-term vision as outlined in:
- Aceh Green Growth Master Plan 2025–2045.
- Sustainable Palm Oil Roadmap 2024–2045 (Aceh Governor Regulation No. 9/2024).
- Regional Action Plan for Sustainable Palm Oil Plantations (RAD KSB) (Aceh Governor Regulation No. 17/2024).
Previously, Aceh also reinforced its commitment through Governor’s Instruction (INGUB) 08/2025 concerning the restructuring and regulation of licensing in the Natural Resources sector.
Cross-Sector Collaboration
This historic initiative originated from a coordination forum held in August 2025 in Banda Aceh, facilitated by the Sustainable Trade Initiative Foundation (IDH) together with the Aceh Regional Development Planning Agency (Bappeda Aceh). The process was subsequently intensively coordinated by the Sustainable Palm Oil Project Management Unit (PMU-KSB) under the supervision of Bappeda Aceh.
As a follow-up, PMU-KSB together with KEMITRAAN (Partnership for Governance Reform) are preparing the establishment of the Regional Implementation Team (TPD RAD KSB) as well as several strategic Working Groups (POKJA), including:
- Land and Farmer Legality Working Group.
- Deforestation Monitoring and Grievance Response Working Group.
- Sustainable Palm Oil Supply Chain Working Group.
With increasingly stronger synergy between the central and regional governments, Aceh is optimistic that it can realize a plantation industry that is not only productive and legally compliant, but also environmentally sustainable for the welfare of all Acehnese people.
| Media contacts: Teuku Budi H (0813 6072 1500) – Fauzan Saputra (0852 2214 0002) PMU – KSB Banda Aceh Secretariat (info.pmuksbaceh@gmail.com) |
| About KEMITRAAN KEMITRAAN is an independent organization that connects government institutions, civil society organizations, and the private sector to build inclusive, transparent, and sustainable solutions through collaborative governance. For 25 years, KEMITRAAN has supported Indonesia’s reform journey across five major areas: (1) strengthening democratic institutions; (2) reforming law enforcement and the judiciary while strengthening anti-corruption movements; (3) decentralization for improved public services; (4) strengthening the capacity of civil society organizations (CSOs); and (5) sustainable development and climate change. In 2025, through funding support from the Sustainable Trade Initiative Foundation (IDH), KEMITRAAN strengthened the Sustainable Palm Oil Program Management Unit (PMU-KSB) to implement the policy direction of the Sustainable Palm Oil Roadmap 2023–2045 (Governor Regulation No. 9 of 2024), aimed at ensuring sustainable palm oil development, providing economic benefits for farmers, and preserving environmental sustainability. |
