(01/10/2024) - PT Bank Negara Indonesia (Persero) Tbk or BNI participates in the management and distribution of aid funds for environmental programs.
This time, BNI is collaborating with the Environmental Fund Management Agency (BPDLH) through the Signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) and the Signing of the Cooperation (PKS) of the Small Grant Community Service Fund for the FOLU Net Sink Project within the Indonesia - Norway Cooperation Framework which was held at Grha BNI 25th Floor, Jakarta, Tuesday (1/10/2024).
The MoU was signed by BNI Enterprise and Commercial Banking Director I Made Sukajaya and BPDLH President Director Joko Tri Haryanto. While the PKS was signed by BNI INS1 GM Iwan Ariawan and BPDLH Director Damayanti Ratunanda. On the same occasion, BNI Institutional Banking Director Munadi Herlambang also witnessed the signing of the MoU and PKS between BNI and BPDLH.
In his remarks, BNI Enterprise and Commercial Banking Director I Made Sukajaya conveyed that the cooperation between BNI and BPDLH is related to the provision of banking services in the distribution of grant funds that focus on environment
Made explained that the Small Grant Program in Indonesia is one of the cooperation programs between the Norwegian government and the Indonesian government through the Ministry of Environment and Forestry (KLHK) and BPDLH.
In this case, BPDLH will systematically collect environmental protection funding from domestic and foreign public and private funds, including bilateral support, international organizations, the private sector, and philanthropy. The distribution orientation will include small grants, green investment and capacity building activities for the community as well as for officials.
“In this collaboration, BNI prepares a mechanism from opening beneficiary accounts, distribution, and monitoring and disbursement of the Small Grant program,” he said.
Made explained that in order to apply for the Small Grant aid program, the prospective beneficiary group submits an aid proposal to BPDLH through the portal provided (application-based), then KLHK verifies, validates, and approves the proposal submitted by the prospective beneficiary, and determines the beneficiary. Following this, BPDLH submits the beneficiary data to BNI to open an account to receive the assistance (BNI Menteng Branch Office) and disburses the funds to each beneficiary account.
Made said, the source of funds for the program came from the Norwegian Grant Fund for the Implementation of FOLU Net Sink 2030 and the fund account has been managed at BNI which is distributed in stages to approximately 8,000 beneficiaries with a total fund of IDR 800 billion. BNI's task is to open a checking account for the recipient of the project's Small Grant service funds according to BPDLH's standing instructions.
“After everything is complete, BNI conveys it to BPDLH, which in turn will transfer the Small Grant funds through BNI Direct and fund recipients can activate and disburse Small Grant funds to BNI branches throughout Indonesia,” Made explained.