Food self-sufficiency is not only about communities’ ability to meet their food needs independently. It also involves consumption patterns, production, market access, and policies that influence the sustainability of local food systems.

Through the Self-Reliant and Sustainable Local Food System Program, Yayasan SHEEP Indonesia organized Advocacy Canvas Training and Workshops in Sipora, Siberut, Kupang, and Sabu Raijua. The activities brought together civil society organizations, media, community-based organizations, and other stakeholders to strengthen their capacity to develop advocacy strategies that respond to local contexts.

Over three days, participants explored both the concepts and practices of advocacy, from identifying problems and setting priority issues to mapping actors, developing key messages, selecting strategies, and designing an advocacy roadmap.

The SSRLFS program areas have diverse local food resources, including maize, bananas, root crops, legumes, marine products, and animal-based foods. However, dependence on rice continues to increase. Changes in consumption patterns, market access, and food policies that prioritize certain commodities have contributed to this situation.

Climate change and disasters also place increasing pressure on local food systems. Extreme rainfall, unpredictable seasons, crop failures, floods, landslides, and high waves can disrupt food production and distribution. Participants also identified other challenges, including limited access to local seeds, monoculture practices, low productivity, limited food processing capacity, and restricted market access.

The workshop provided participants with a space to reflect on their experiences and examine food-related issues from different perspectives. One important lesson was the importance of having the confidence to use available spaces to voice community needs. However, participants also recognized that expressing concerns alone is not enough. Effective advocacy requires a clear strategy, the right targets, evidence, and strong networks of support.

Participants then learned how to use the Advocacy Canvas to connect existing problems with the changes they want to achieve. They mapped decision-makers, actors who can influence decisions, and potential supporters who can contribute to the advocacy process.

The process resulted in several priority issues, including sustainable food production, water availability, access to trade and markets, and policy support for local food. Through collective work, participants began developing advocacy strategies and roadmaps tailored to the needs of their respective areas.

Reflecting on the three-day workshop, Nova, one of the participants, shared her perspective on advocacy:

“Over these three days, we experienced something truly meaningful. In addition to learning about advocacy, we also learned how the local food we produce can encourage the government to develop policies and provide protection for local food systems,” she said.

Strengthening food self-reliance requires communities that are able to voice their interests, as well as policies that support and protect local food systems. This workshop marked a step toward transforming community experiences and challenges into collective agendas for change.