In Indonesia’s East Nusa Tenggara Province, communities face intertwined climate and social challenges. Two UN Community Volunteers, Untung Nomleni and Maria S. Daros, played key roles in fostering resilience and peace by empowering women through the “Empowered Women for Sustainable Peace” (WE NEXUS) project, implemented by UN Women with support from the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA). They acted as bridges between local communities, implementing partners, and the United Nations.
The WE NEXUS project (2023–2026) focuses on integrating women’s leadership into peacebuilding, climate action, and disaster preparedness. By engaging government partners, civil society, and local communities, the initiative ensures that women and girls are protected while positioned as active agents of sustainable peace.
From November 2024 to October 2025, Untung Nomleni worked in Soe, East Nusa Tenggara, documenting activities implemented by local partners and representing UN Women at community events. Her work highlighted the stories of women driving climate resilience and peace, contributing to the understanding of how inclusive programming strengthens local communities and supports women’s empowerment during climate crises.
From September 2024 to August 2025, Maria S. Daros supported project monitoring and community engagement in Kupang. She focused on accountability and ensuring that KOICA-supported activities aligned with the project’s objectives. Her reports and insights helped partners tailor activities to local needs, emphasizing women’s leadership and improving the effectiveness of humanitarian and development initiatives.
The WE NEXUS project, jointly implemented by UN Women, UNFPA, UN OCHA, CARE, Wahid Foundation, and Save the Children, promotes gender-responsive solutions in disaster- and conflict-prone areas. It strengthens women’s roles in peacebuilding, economic empowerment, and climate resilience across East and West Nusa Tenggara and Central Sulawesi. By involving women in village planning, economic development, and local resilience mechanisms, the initiative contributes to Indonesia’s broader development goals and the global women, peace, and security agenda.
Through their volunteerism, Maria and Untung demonstrate how individual commitment can advance collective progress, linking humanitarian, development, and peace efforts with local leadership and women’s empowerment.
