Forever Sabah (FS)

For the past 8 years, this project was supported by LEAP, AAK, The David and Lucile Packard Foundation, Sabah Forest Department (SFD), UNEP, RSPO and Marks & Spencer as the funders of this project. We are also working with Sabah Lands and Surveys Department (LSD) through the Smallholder Working Group under Sabah Jurisdictional Certifications Steering Committee in minimising the main challenges of smallholders in Sabah, which is land title issuance. As for certification technical expertise, we have collaborated with Wild Asia and WWF-Malaysia in guiding the smallholders toward RSPO Certification.

Forever Sabah is a 25 year programme supporting Sabah's transition to a diversified, equitable, circular economy. We are a civil society entity, serving as a collaborative social movement rather than a bureaucracy or NGO. We are an initiative rooted in local aspirations, built by an enthusiastic team who believe we can make our state better by utilising Sabahan knowledge and experience and working with others and across sectors. We believe in international partnerships, but do not believe in relying on funding to drive change. Rather, we value the sharing of experiences and new forms of currency – such as responsibility, participation, reciprocity and trust to achieve more effective, large scale and collaborative results.

Since 2016, Forever Sabah has been actively engaged with smallholders from four districts in Sabah, focusing on their RSPO Certification process. Over the years, we have gained valuable insights into the challenges they face, including low yields and productivity, poor farm management, contested land ownership and deforestation, all of which impact their living conditions.
To address these concerns, we have adopted a collaborative approach, working closely with government agencies and civil society groups. Through these partnerships, we have developed innovative approaches that are ready for implementation throughout the state.
Thanks to our partnership with Wild Asia, the smallholder certification work of Forever Sabah is expanding into other communities and districts. Our aim is to extend the benefits of our work and RSPO Certification to more smallholders, leading to improved livelihoods and sustainable practices. As a result, we are continuously increasing the number of smallholders involved in our initiatives.