Ministry Develops Gender Mainstreaming Framework for Palm Oil

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - The Ministry of Women’s Empowerment and Child Protection (PPPA) is preparing guidelines for gender mainstreaming in the palm oil sector to ensure women have equal access, participation, and benefits.

Deputy for Gender Equality, Amurwani Dwi Lestariningsih, said gender integration in the palm oil industry is crucial for inclusive and sustainable development. She emphasized that incorporating gender perspectives strengthens the sector.

“A gender perspective needs to be systematically integrated into policies, programs, and governance,” Amurwani said when opening the second Focus Group Discussion (FGD) on the development of the guidelines on Thursday, June 11, 2026, as reported on the ministry’s official website.

She noted that women in the palm oil sector face obstacles ranging from access to resources to participation in decision-making and basic workplace rights. The ministry stressed that women must be treated not as objects of development but as equal partners in the process.

According to Amurwani, gender-responsive policies can create safer, more comfortable, and fairer work environments for women. She highlighted the importance of maternity rights, lactation rooms, childcare facilities, and family education programs in building a women-friendly industrial ecosystem.

The initiative has received support from various stakeholders. Dian Yuanita Wulandari, National Project Manager for GCP-SLPI UNDP Indonesia, said the guidelines are expected to serve as a practical reference for integrating gender perspectives into policies, programs, and activities in the palm oil sector.

“Thus, the benefits of development can be felt more fairly and equally by both women and men,” she said.

The PPPA Ministry is targeting completion of the guidelines by the end of July 2026. They are expected to encourage more inclusive, gender-equitable, and sustainable practices, while strengthening women’s contributions to national economic development in line with Indonesia Emas 2045. ***