Indonesian–Danish waste partnership: Sharing knowledge across continents

Since 2018, Denmark’s Strategic Sector Cooperation with Indonesia has developed into a model of mutual learning and results-driven diplomacy, with Danida Fellowship Centre’s learning programmes playing a central role. Three representatives of the cooperation share their experiences.

By Vibeke Quaade

The Danish-Indonesian Strategic Sector Cooperation on the environment and circular economy began with a simple, open-ended question posed by the Danish Environmental Protection Agency: How can we assist Indonesia? The response was both specific and urgent, namely waste management.

With over 270 million citizens and more than 17,000 islands, Indonesia faces complex logistical, environmental and social challenges in managing its waste.  The country generates a total of approximately 190,000 tons of waste each day, around 57 per cent of which is organic waste. Plastic is estimated to contribute around 25,000 tons daily to that total, and at least 20 per cent of the plastic is believed to end up in rivers and coastal waters. Moreover, in the whole of 2023, only 39,01% of the waste, (approximately 22,09 million tons), was managed, meaning that 60,99% remained unmanaged, most of it thrown away in open dumps or directly into the environment.The capital Jakarta alone produces around 7,500 tons of general waste each day, a burden that its infrastructure struggles to absorb.

What has followed since the initial question was posed has been much more than just technical assistance. The cooperation between the two countries has evolved into a dynamic, long-term partnership, rooted in flexibility and the shared commitment to sustainable solutions.  The focus has evolved organically over the years, beginning with knowledge sharing and capacity building in the management of organic waste and plastics, and growing to include extended producer responsibilities, waste-to-energy strategies for waste that cannot be recycled or re-used, and circular economy awareness and policy development.

The key drivers of the cooperation are Ana Suryana from the Indonesian Ministry of Environment, Rasmus Eisted, senior advisor at the Danish Environmental Protection Agency and Erika Torres Luquin, the environmental sector counsellor at the Danish Embassy in Jakarta. Their cooperation has developed into a form that leverages technical insight and policy diplomacy for long-term impact.

When asked about the programme’s achievements, Rasmus, Ana and Erika highlighted the fact that 177 Indonesian civil servants, entrepreneurs and community leaders had participated in Danida Fellowship Centre training courses in Denmark and over 100 in courses held locally.

Watch Indonesian waste advocates Resa Aprianengsih and Hafez Komar Aditya share their key takeaways from Danida Fellowship Centre’s ‘Green and Circular Economy’ learning programme, which they attended in April 2025.

Across all five areas of the sector collaboration in Indonesia – the environment and circular economy, food and agriculture, energy, intellectual property rights, and the maritime sector – a total of 421 Indonesian partners have been trained in Denmark.

“The understanding of circular economy principles among officials in central positions in Indonesia has increased, and this has resulted in several recommendations to strengthen the implementation of Extended Producer Responsibility through guidelines and technical assistance,” says Ana.

She continues to explain that at the grassroots level, the Ministry of Environment, in collaboration with the Danish Environmental Protection Agency and the Danish Embassy, has developed the Pocket Guide for Establishing a Waste Bank Unit. These guidelines are designed to help local governments and communities both establish new waste bank units and enhance the performance of existing ones. Furthermore, the cooperation with Denmark has reinforced efforts at the community level.

“ In 2025, we have conducted three training sessions: two for waste banks in Malang Regency and Bali, and one for Pecalang, the local religious leaders in Bali Province who play an important role in community security and environmental issues,” Ana says. She expects that such trainings encourage behavioural change at the community level, leading not only to waste reduction but also to an increased recycling rate that contributes to the circular economy system.

“Of course, our contribution can sometimes feel like a drop in the ocean, given the scale of Indonesia’s waste management challenges,” Erika acknowledges, “but it’s still significant – because we’re being trusted as technical sparring partners by the Indonesian government.”

Rasmus adds, “The fact that Indonesia invited us to help revamp their national waste strategy as recently as 2025 is a testament to the trust and partnership we’ve built.”

From knowledge to action
Capacity development lies at the heart of the Strategic Sector Cooperation model. It goes beyond formal advice by delivering practical training that the participants can translate into tangible policy and business action.

Erika recalls, “One Indonesian entrepreneur, Rekosystem, told me how he applied behavioural nudging techniques from our training and saw a 50% reduction in the dumping of recyclable waste at their warehouse after closing hours. That’s real community impact.”

Ana adds, “Since the cooperation began in 2018, a wide range of knowledge and insights have been shared, as reflected in the development of several guidelines and direct learning opportunities through study visits, training, etc. These efforts have led to the replication of initiatives, including plans to adopt extended producer responsibility systems, establish information and communication systems, and replicate policy on waste management.”

Collaboration built on flexibility and trust
“What makes the Strategic Sector Cooperation programme effective, isn’t a rigid roadmap, but the way we work,” Rasmus explains. “Our open communication channels and the relationships we have built through the exchange of expertise and the collaboration of like-minded professionals in Indonesia and Denmark enable us to respond swiftly and strategically. While we have clear goals and frameworks, our working method is designed to adapt to new information and to the challenges that arise. It’s about collaboratively developing tailored solutions that meet real-time needs.”

This mindset of strategic responsiveness allows Strategic Sector Cooperation programmes to remain flexible and agile without sacrificing direction or purpose. It is not about one-sided instruction but about co-creation, responsiveness, and listening.

Erika underscores this, “Our work is deeply rooted in mutual learning. Every partner brings unique expertise and local insight, which makes our solutions far more robust than anything developed in isolation. This is truly teamwork on an international scale.”

Rasmus adds, “We often start meetings without a fixed agenda, but end with a concrete plan. We’re paving the road while driving the car.”

The core strength is peer-to-peer collaboration
The Strategic Sector Cooperation thrives on peer-to-peer engagement. Indonesian environmental experts and officials sit side-by-side with Danish counterparts sharing tools, challenges and lessons learned.

“It’s about learning together,” Rasmus says. “That’s where the real value is.”

Ana reflects, “This is a journey on how to collaborate by sharing experience and knowledge on waste management between two different countries, while aligning our common goals and supporting the circular economy. We greatly appreciate and thank the Danish government for this cooperation.”

Erika adds, “My role is to be a bridge – translating the complexities of a vast and diverse country like Indonesia into something Danish policymakers and experts can understand and vice-versa. At the end of the day, solutions have to be owned, adapted and implemented locally.”

Diplomacy that opens doors
Unlike some donor models focused on large amounts of funding, the Strategic Sector Cooperation is about trust-based relationships and dialogue with key stakeholders.

“It’s not about money, it’s about trust,” Erika says. “We’ve built relationships that allow us to convene stakeholders from across ministries, municipalities and even the private sector.”

The visit of Indonesia’s Minister of Environment and Forestry to Denmark in April 2025 was a milestone. “That visit wasn’t just symbolic,” Rasmus reflects. “It was the culmination of years of dialogue. It shows how diplomacy and technical support can go hand in hand.”

Building a long-term partnership
Now in its second phase, the Strategic Sector Cooperation continues to evolve with Indonesia’s priorities. Recent focus areas include urban waste management pilot projects in Bali, support for Extended Producer Responsibility policy development, and exploring waste-to-energy opportunities within the circular economy.

All three partners emphasise that the Strategic Sector Cooperation is not a project, but a long-term partnership.

“It’s about getting the pieces to work together – you can’t just design a good plan; you have to make sure it fits into the whole machinery,” Rasmus says.

“This is a marathon, not a sprint,” Erika reflects. “And it’s about adapting as political and economic contexts shift, and staying committed.”

Ana concludes, “The strength of strategic sector cooperation lies in continuity. Even when governments or priorities change, the trust and relationships we’ve built persist.”

Read more and watch the first video about Indonesian waste advocates Resa Aprianengsih and Hafez Komar Aditya study stay in Denmark where the attended the learning programme ‘Green and Circular Economy’ learning programme in April 2025.

 

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