By: Damy Heezen
Empowering Indonesia’s Future: A Sustainable Project Revolution
Three years ago, I embarked on a journey to explore whether Indonesia could benefit from a groundbreaking management structure for project development in various infrastructure sectors. My vision focused on achieving remarkable outcomes: 20-40% lower building costs, increased profitability, and above all, making projects the epitome of sustainability, measured against all 17 SDGs. The best part? Achieving this without requiring additional investments, staying well within the available project budgets.
The Indonesian Quest: Lower Costs, Higher Profits, Greener Projects
To my delight, the response from my friends and local Indonesian partners was an enthusiastic ‘YES!’ Lower initial investments and greater profitability were highly sought-after objectives among investors and project developers. Though sustainability was acknowledged as essential, it was often perceived as costly. However, we all recognized the imperative to prioritize sustainability, and that’s where my expertise came into play.
Learning from the Dutch Experts: Pioneering Sustainable Development
The Netherlands boasts expertise in smart and cost-effective project development for over two decades, particularly concerning sustainable project management with a keen eye on cost-effectiveness, efficiency, and profitability. Renowned cities like Rotterdam and Amsterdam have consistently ranked among the top 10 most sustainable cities globally for over 15 years. This impressive feat can be attributed to our project managers who possess vast experience in making projects the MOST sustainable without requiring additional budgets. Some of these experts have lent their guidance to advise city development departments, global engineering firms, and project development companies.
From Small Projects to International Impact: Our Sustainability Journey
It all started with ingenious design and astute project management, which initially applied to individual projects and gradually extended to larger endeavors. Some of our energy and emission management solutions have even been adopted by the EU, such as the mandatory Energy Performance Certification for buildings across Europe. These seasoned managers became instrumental in international projects and collaborated with esteemed organizations like the UN, EU, and GBCs, leaving a mark of excellence in every endeavor.
Challenges and Solutions: Sustaining Sustainability Without Extra Investments
However, we encountered a familiar challenge with the local city development departments in the Netherlands – lack of funding for sustainability despite widespread desire for it. A similar situation echoed in Indonesia – the thirst for sustainability prevailed, but financial constraints presented a significant hurdle. Thus, I was determined to introduce my time-tested management approach to Indonesia.
VISI: Building a Greener Future – People, Planet, and Profit in Harmony
So, what did I decide to bring? Over 15 years of experience in managing tenders, from policy implementation to project execution, with a profound focus on achieving cost-effectiveness, speed, profitability, and utmost sustainability. In the Netherlands, our approach and vision were embraced as official policy by the Ministry of Infrastructure, along with simple and intelligent tools to determine the best tender requirements for embedding sustainability in every project.
Coaching for Success: Empowering Indonesian Project Development Teams
VISI will help you develop and design all projects into the most Sustainable and Circular projects with a great positive impact on people’s lives, conserving nature and benefiting your social economy and profits!
The essence of Visi Infrastruktur Sustainable Indonesia (VISI) is to anchor sustainability in the vision and policies and to incorporate sustainability aspects from the first planning stage in the project to strive for an optimal balance between People, Planet, and Profit.
The policy process revolves around embedding sustainability in strategic and executive policies, and the project process involves considering sustainability aspects in conjunction with technical aspects across all project phases. This is done based on an iterative process of formulating, recording, and implementing sustainability ambitions and defining opportunities, and passing them on to the next policy and project phase.
VISI should be implemented as early as possible for the best effect in a project (the picture is from the VISI training that I have prepared in the Indonesian language)
MDIB: Unveiling the Blueprint of Sustainability Ambitions
I sought permission to utilize the intellectual property encompassing this wealth of knowledge and tailor it to suit Indonesia’s context – a venture that ultimately succeeded. Under the guidance of Dutch experts, I formulated the first version of VISI (Visi Infrastruktur Sustainable Indonesia), which I hope Indonesian experts will study and evolve in the future. Alongside VISI, I also created MDIB (Metode Desain Indonesia Berkelanjutan).
Transforming any project into profitable and sustainable object.
The MDIB is a tool for the structured recording and storage of sustainability ambitions across projects. The MDIB is a visual representation of twelve sustainability themes and their associated levels of desired ambition or needs. With the MDIB, it is possible to translate the sustainability ambitions of the organization’s general policy memorandum into projects. MDIB can also be used very well when translating organizational goals into corporate social responsibility procurement.
The preparation of the MDIB output usually takes place during an interactive session with all involved under the guidance of an (experienced) facilitator. Some organizations already have one. You can use MDIB in several ways:
- Generic MDIB at the policy or program level: You apply the generic MDIB at the policy level and not to a specific project. The generic MDIB provides direction for programs and projects. It can be aimed at the entire organization or a specific policy theme or sub-program.
- MDIB Project: The MDIB Project is used to jointly define a project’s sustainability ambitions. If you have a generic MDIB, you can use it as a starting point.
- MDIB Evaluation: The ambition evaluation network is used to evaluate how sustainable the project is in reality. You can then explain this to the client.
Integral Design Method Public Space (by the City of Amsterdam).
Metode Desain Integral Ruang Publik or
Integral Design Method Public Space (by the City of Amsterdam).
In the Netherlands, The city development department of the City of Amsterdam took the VISI to a higher level. With the help of the MDIB, they reflected this on every small part of the whole public space and all the buildings, to aim for making Amsterdam 100% Energy and Climate Neutral and fully circular before 2050.
They spend millions of euros to hire thousands of architects, engineers, and experts for the future of Amsterdam to do this.
The results they published in 2 books, the case study and their new design method for the whole city, which are only digitally available via their network. Hardcopies of the books are a giveaway present to partners of the city of Amsterdam.
I saw this as the ultimate example of VISI and MDIB implementation for Indonesian project development and to show this is not a concept or something we need to wait for.
I negotiated with the City Development department of Amsterdam for permission to make these books publicly available in the Indonesian language with success!
With the support of my partners at PT Sysnesia Energi Nusantara and Atelier Una Indonesia, I got in touch with Andi Publisher and we worked for 1.5 years to make the books the Indonesian language.
Now the books are part of the National Library of Indonesia with their own ISBN and is Indonesia the only country in the world that have the E-book and hardcopies publically available in their language!
For book 2 Amsterdam is now working on a 3D city modeler and a digital city management system that will follow to Indonesia soon.
IKN Baru: Making History as the World’s 1st 100% Sustainable Capital!
Picture this: an extraordinary collaboration between my global partners, the visionary City of Amsterdam, and your unwavering support. Together, we have the power to transform IKN Baru into a living testament of sustainability, setting a precedent for the entire world. Faster than anyone thought possible, with the indomitable spirit of Team Amsterdam leading the way! Are you ready to make history with us?
Imagine that in collaboration with my global partners and the City of Amsterdam, we could make IKN Baru the first 100% sustainable city in the WORLD, faster and with the help of team Amsterdam!
More information?
Seeking further insights or interested? Feel free to reach out to me Damy Heezen and Richard Ruijtenbeek. Please note that this opportunity is exclusively available for Indonesia!
