ABOUT PGS

Participatory Guarantee System (PGS)

PGS is an appropriate quality assurance system initially for local stakeholders wishing to emphasize participation (between farmers, NGOs, local government, consumer, and other parties) and operating beyond the third-party certification framework. This system aims to give consumers confidence products from farmers and local producers fulfill standards. This system is often simpler and cheaper for farmers and local producers.

ROLES stems from the Bahasa Indonesia words “Rotan Lestari” which mean “Sustainable Rotan” PGS ROLES is an Indonesian participatory certification system for sustainable rattan products which is implemented through a collaboration of institutions and customized to the local context. ROLEs is intended for rattan commodities that are marketed at local, regional, national, and international levels. The scope includes raw materials, semi-finished, and finished products. The PGS system is intended for producers (farmers and gatherers) and artisans, as well as industry stakeholders such as private companies.

ROLES consists of various important working elements such as the ROLES national council, secretariat, ROLES Provincial and District level units, rattan farmer groups, and rattan processors and artisans.

ROLES National Council

The highest organ in ROLES is the national council. This is a multi-stakeholder body consisting of committed people in realizing the vision and mission of ROLES. Members in the national council are from the government and research sector as well from civil society as well as from rattan associations. They are the ones responsible for the development of the overall scheme including standards and guidelines for sustainable rattan.

ROLES Secretariat

The ROLES Secretariat assists the council by preparing necessary information, safe-keeping documents and assisting the national council in its networking and education efforts. They are assisting to oversee operations and coordination with the various ROLES units across the countries. They also assist the national council in coordinating with other stakeholders.

ROLES Unit

The ROLES Unit is the implementing institution at the local level. This can be at the provincial level or the district level whatever seems to be the most practical and feasible for the situation and conditions. The main task of the ROLES Unit is to verify and monitor that the production process carried out by farmers and processors is according to sustainable rattan standards. The ROLES Unit is also composed of stakeholders from various sectors. They conduct orientations and trainings, and they compile the documentation for an audit process. They also have a roster of farmer peer inspectors that rotate in the conduct of peer inspections with other farmer groups

Rattan farmer groups

The rattan farmer groups are responsible for the sustainable harvest, management and production of the rattan farms or rattan forests in the area. They will be the target of the audit. There is a clear list of farmers who agree to work collaboratively in ensuring the sustainability of the rattan that they harvest. They are also responsible for documenting rattan activities so that the origin and details of harvest can be traced.

Rattan processors

Groups or small industries that do the processing from rattan into semi-finished and finished products.

Click Here to Read the Standards and Guidelines

BASIC PRINCIPLES

To promote the sustainability of rattan in Indonesia, ROLES applies these basic principles:

1. Relevance: The system is adapted to the characteristics of rattan products resulting from good forest management (without forests, there will never be any rattan), which is led by small producers, and small and medium scale processors. The guarantee system is aimed to increase sustainability impacts and reduce negative impacts. The system reflects indigenous and local understanding and scientific understanding that are relevant and relate to internationally recognized norms.
2. Participation: The system seeks to involve many parties in system design, implementation, and evaluation. Participation emphasizes the responsibility of the parties involved to ensure the integrity of the sustainability of products. Those who participate are all the parties that are interested in supporting farmers and small producers in providing evidence of the sustainability of their rattan products. Producers are commonly an important stakeholder and sometimes concerned consumers are involved too.
3. Shared Vision: There is a common goal of the parties to establish the standard and ROLES operational system. This vision can include promoting local production systems, standards, social justice, fair trade, respect for ecosystems, local autonomy, and cultural diversity. The vision is realized in the mission, strategy, and ROLES development policy.
4. Transparency and Accessibility: The guarantee system that is built must be clear and recognized by all parties who are involved in how the ROLES system will be implemented: standards, norms (reference for guarantee process/fulfilment of criteria) and how the decisions are made. Transparency is important in the documentation system and public access on ROLES information.
5. Trust: The core value of ROLES is trust between farmer groups, gatherers, rattan processors, rattan artisans and small-scale industries of rattan products and their partners in the system that local producers are capable of producing sustainable and high quality products. ROLES is an expression or way to ensure that trust.
6. Horizontal Principle: ROLES is not a hierarchical system, but the structure is more democratic. The emphasis is on the responsibility by all parties. Horizontal mechanisms can be realized in role sharing/rotation, the involvement of farmers, gatherers and processors in guarantees and in transparent decision-making.
7. Affordable: ROLES must be effective in cost, it means that producer groups can access ROLES services with an affordable cost.
8. Simple: ROLES mechanisms, procedures, and documentation is understandable and can be implemented by small producer groups.
9. Continuous Improvement : The guarantee system tries to see the effectiveness of the work system implementation and ROLEs standard on the desired impact. Periodically, the feedback for learning is captured and continous to innovate for improvement so that it is more beneficial to community and the environment.