Institute for Research and Empowerment

What Institute for Research and Empowerment does

Institute for Research and Empowerment (IRE) Yogyakarta is an Indonesian non-governmental organization founded in 1994 that conducts research, policy advocacy, and field programs on village governance, rural economic development, poverty alleviation, and democratic deepening. It was one of the NGOs that initiated the passage of UU Desa No. 6/2014 (the Indonesian Village Law), which gives it substantive authorship-level expertise and structural credibility with local government counterparts. Operations are organized around four program areas: village sovereignty for sustainable forest management, poverty alleviation policy, village economic development (including BUM Desa or Village-Owned Enterprises), and democracy and local political strengthening, with active work in at least six provinces across Java, Kalimantan, and East Nusa Tenggara.

IRE's core offerings are a portfolio of knowledge products and capacity-building services rather than a software platform. Knowledge products include books, the Flamma newsletter, policy briefs, and annual reports distributed free via download, plus an online library catalog and photo/video galleries. Service offerings include the IRE Training Center (workshops on scientific writing, critical thinking, and policy advocacy conducted at no apparent cost to participants), the IRENG (IRE Next-Generation) youth development community of 43 trained young researchers and activists, an internship program for university students, and direct village programs using the SIGAP community engagement methodology and a participatory spatial/social/sectoral database system developed with Universitas Gadjah Mada under the KIBAR program.

The business model is grant-funded nonprofit operations. Revenue streams are (1) grant funding from international foundations (William and Lily Foundation; the VOICE Consortium of Oxfam, Novib, and Hivos for the CIV program), (2) corporate CSR co-funding (notably PT Pertamina Hulu Mahakam for 3T-area village enterprise work), (3) partnerships with conservation and research institutions (YKAN, BRIN) and universities (UGM, Akademi Salam Bantul), and (4) government program partnerships at provincial and district level (Sleman, Gunungkidul, Magelang, Kutai Kartanegara, Sumba Barat Daya). Publications are offered free with registration, training programs are conducted at no cost to participants, and pricing for any fee-based services is not publicly disclosed; the disclosed pricing model is effectively Freemium with no commercial billing.

Name

Institute for Research and Empowerment

Legal name

Institute for Research and Empowerment

Website

https://ireyogya.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1994

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

IRE Yogyakarta is an Indonesian nonprofit, founded in 1994, that conducts research, policy advocacy, and field programs on village governance, rural economic development, poverty alleviation, and democratic deepening across multiple Indonesian provinces, serving village governments, BUM Desa, local administrations, and university partners.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Nonprofit Community Empowerment Research and Policy Advocacy

NAICS

Social Advocacy Organizations (8133), Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities (54172), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Engineering, Accounting, Research, Management (8700)

akta.pro primary industry

Rural Livelihoods & Economic Empowerment (BPAGABAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Infrastructure, Housing & Community Development (BPAGABAL), Technical Assistance, Policy Lending & Capacity Building Programs (BPADACAN), Payments for Ecosystem Services (PES) Program Development & Administration (AFAMAMAF)

Keywords

• Community empowerment research
• Rural development policy
• Village governance programs
• NGO capacity building
• Democratic policy advocacy

Headquarters

HQ city

Sleman

HQ country

Indonesia

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Grant Funding: IRE operates as an NGO funded by international organizations, foundations, and government partnerships for village development and policy advocacy programs.
2. Training and Capacity Building Services: Training center provides workshops on research writing, community empowerment, and policy advocacy for students and professionals.
3. Publication Sales and Distribution: Books, policy briefs, Flamma newsletter, and annual reports are distributed, with some available for download (many free downloads recorded).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Institute for Research and Empowerment (IRE) Yogyakarta is a non-governmental organization that delivers research, policy advocacy, training, and field programs focused on village governance, democratic participation, rural economic empowerment, and poverty alleviation in Indonesia. Its offerings include publications (books, Flamma newsletter, policy briefs, annual reports), the IRE Training Center for capacity building, the IRE Next Generation youth program, and on-the-ground programs covering forest governance, village economic development, poverty alleviation, and local democracy strengthening.

Product overview

Institute for Research and Empowerment (IRE) Yogyakarta is a non-governmental organization that offers a portfolio of knowledge products, training services, and youth development programs focused on village governance, rural democracy, and community empowerment in Indonesia. The core offerings include publications (Books, Flamma newsletter, Policy Briefs, Annual Reports), the IRE Training Center for capacity building, IRE Next Generation youth program, and a library resource. IRE operates through four main program areas: Village Sovereignty for Sustainable Forest Management, Poverty Alleviation Policy, Village Economic Development, and Democracy and Local Political Strengthening. The organization also maintains video and photo galleries and provides internship opportunities for students. This is a service-oriented NGO portfolio rather than a technology product platform.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Publications (Books, Flamma newsletter, Policy Briefs, Annual Reports) Published works including books, the Flamma newsletter, policy briefs, and annual reports covering village governance, democracy, and rural development topics; available for free download with registration.
• IRE Training Center Capacity building service providing training programs including scientific writing workshops and community empowerment facilitation skills for researchers, activists, and community facilitators.
• IRE Next Generation (IRENG) Youth development program consisting of 43 young people from various regions and educational backgrounds, trained in research, community empowerment, and public issue campaigning through social media.
• Internship Program Internship opportunities for students to participate in community empowerment programs in villages.
• Perpustakaan (IRE Library) Library collection of thousands of titles covering democracy, social movements, villages, and other social topics, including training modules and documentary films, accessible via the IRE catalog.
• Kedaulatan Desa untuk Tata Kelola Hutan Lestari Program Program focused on village sovereignty for sustainable forest management through social forestry schemes and integrated area development.
• Penguatan Kebijakan untuk Penanggulangan Kemiskinan Program

Quantifiable outcome

• 668 downloads for ecological mitigation publication, demonstrating high demand for village-level environmental content.
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Yayasan Konservasi Alam Nusantara (YKAN)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 November 2022Collaboration program 'Penguatan Tata Kelola Pemerintah Desa dan BUM Desa' in 20 villages across 4 districts in North Kalimantan. Uses SIGAP approach for community engagement in natural resource management.
• Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 September 2022Launched KIBAR UGM program (Komunitas Belajar dan Berdaya) designed as a community empowerment model using spatial, social, and sectoral databases. Coordinated by Directorate of Community Service (DPKM) UGM with IRE providing expertise in community empowerment.
• PT Pertamina Hulu Mahakam (PHM)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerCSR collaboration for village BUM Desa development in 3T (Terdepan, Terpencil, Tertinggal) areas of Kutai Kartanegara, East Kalimantan. Focus on village enterprise institutional development and basic services.
• Naladwipa (Samarinda)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerLocal NGO partner in East Kalimantan collaborating on CSR-based community empowerment programs in Delta Mahakam area.
• Akademi Salam BantulminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in KIBAR UGM program focusing on community empowerment in areas around UGM campus.
• Badan Riset dan Inovasi Nasional (BRIN)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for development of National Observatory (OBNAS) in Kupang as part of poverty alleviation programs in eastern Indonesia.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• INFID (International NGO Forum on Indonesian Development): Coalition of Indonesian and international NGOs advocating on development policy—adjacent to IRE's advocacy posture on UU Desa implementation and democratic governance.

Direct peers

• Yayasan Pusaka Bentala: Indonesian NGO working on natural resource governance and community rights—directly comparable to IRE's SIGAP natural resource management and community empowerment approach.
• Sajogyo Institute: Indonesian institute working on rural sociology, agrarian studies, and peasant livelihoods—shares IRE's emphasis on village economic empowerment and ecological sustainability.
• PATTIRO: Indonesian civil society organization focused on local governance, public service transparency, and accountability—directly comparable to IRE's village governance and BUM Desa strengthening mandate.
• Kemitraan Partnership for Governance Reform: Multi-stakeholder partnership working on governance reform and civil society strengthening across Indonesia, with parallel village-level and policy advocacy programs to IRE.
• SMERU Research Institute: Independent social research institute conducting policy-relevant research on poverty, inequality, and rural development in Indonesia—comparable research-driven advocacy model to IRE.
• Perkumpulan Prakarsa: Indonesian think tank focused on social justice, poverty, and rural economic policy—closely aligned with IRE's research, advocacy, and community empowerment focus.

Emerging players

• Yayasan Konservasi Alam Nusantara (YKAN): Indonesian conservation foundation and current IRE partner on North Kalimantan village governance—comparable in mission overlap around forest-area community empowerment.

Broad incumbents

• Oxfam Indonesia: Large international NGO with extensive Indonesia programming on inequality and inclusive development; overlaps with IRE's poverty alleviation and village economic development agenda at much greater scale.
• WRI Indonesia: Larger sustainable development and governance-focused think tank in Indonesia; relevant to IRE's forest governance and sustainability programs (e.g., social forestry) with broader institutional capacity.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/institute-for-research-and-empowerment

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Institute for Research and Empowerment