In Loving Memory of Yaya - Climate and Land Use Alliance

In Memoriam: Nur Hidayati (Yaya)
August 14, 1973 – November 5, 2024

It is with great sadness and deep appreciation for a remarkable life that we mourn the loss of our beloved colleague Nur Hidayati – or Yaya, as friends and colleagues call her.

Yaya will be dearly missed. Known for her keen political insight and inspiring activism, she worked tirelessly in the environmental and social movements as a passionate advocate and an unwavering ally to civil society organizations and local and Indigenous communities in Indonesia.

After serving in leadership roles at several civil society organizations, including Greenpeace Southeast Asia and the Indonesian Forum for Environment (WALHI), Yaya joined the Climate and Land Use Alliance (CLUA) as an advisor in Indonesia in November 2021. As CLUA’s Advisor, Yaya supported many organizations working on climate change, green development policies, and restoration initiatives. She was actively involved in landscape-level efforts to protect forests, while supporting Indigenous Peoples’ efforts to secure their rights and livelihoods. Yaya was able to bring together the issues of energy, forests, Indigenous rights, democracy, and civil society thanks to her wide networks within environmental, human rights, urban planning, anti-corruption, and women’s and youth movements. Yaya had a deep commitment to building up and supporting women’s leadership. Countless current and future leaders are stronger thanks to her example and guidance.

Yaya’s expertise and insights were invaluable both to her colleagues in CLUA, and to hundreds of activists working across Indonesia and around the world. Yaya was a highly respected and deeply appreciated member of our organization and of the broader movements whose causes she served. Yaya dedicated her life to advancing rights, justice, and environmental causes until the very end.

Yaya will be remembered by her colleagues for her kindness, generosity, warmth, compassion, and humility. With her positivity and strength, she inspired her colleagues and celebrated our shared successes. Yaya radiated hope and determination – even when facing the greatest challenges.

All of us at CLUA send our deepest condolences to Yaya’s family and to all of her loved ones. The CLUA family in Indonesia and around the world will continue to honor Yaya’s life and her legacy as we strive to realize the change to which Yaya was so deeply committed.

Yaya once shared these wise words for our work: “We must demonstrate strength and resilience, but we also need to be persuasive and cheerful. This is not an easy task.”

We join together with all who knew and loved Yaya as we remember, grieve, and celebrate a remarkable life and a wonderful person.

Rest in peace, dearest Yaya. Your life’s work and joyful spirit will continue to inspire us all.

Lindsey Allen, Executive Director, CLUA

Dewi Suralaga, Lead Consultant for Indonesia Coordination, CLUA

Mardiyah Chamim, Lead Consultant for Strategic Communications, CLUA