Strengthening Local Food Security for Climate Change Adaptation: Lessons from Merauke-Papua Indonesia

Researchers, governments, rural communities, and international institutions are increasingly focusing on local food security as a means of adapting to climate change. The focus has been on the role of formal institutions and donors in supporting these communities to adapt to climate change collectively. This study took place in Salor Indah Village (kampung), Kurik District, Merauke Regency, Papua Province, selected purposively selected for its characteristics. The aim was to deeply understand how local communities proactively and collaboratively build food security in response to climate change. Through qualitative methods such as focus group discussions and in-depth interviews with local and community leaders, as well as selected farmers, this study sought to capture the leadership characteristic in response to climate change, the community’s understanding of climate change and its impacts, and their collaborative efforts in establishing local food security. The core findings highlight the importance of community networks, effective information sharing, robust local leadership, active community involvement, trust, and the delegation of authority as fundamental components in crafting community-based local food security.