Mova's Notes

Mohamad Mova AlAfghani -- Curriculum Vitae

25 min read

Profile

International legal advisor and scholar with expertise in the fields of water law, human rights, and environmental governance. Ph.D. holder in Water Law and Governance. Founding Director of the Center for Regulation, Policy and Governance (CRPG) and lecturer at the Faculty of Law, Universitas Ibn Khaldun Bogor. Over 20 years of experience in policy development, regulatory reform, legislative drafting, research, and advocacy. Has a diverse array of publications in different areas of law and has contributed to policy making at the national, regional and international levels.

LinkedIn: Movanet

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Send an email to mova(at)alafghani.info

Formal Education

  • University of Dundee: Obtained a PhD in Water Law and Governance from the UNESCO Centre for Water Law, Policy and Science, sponsored by the Scottish Government Scholarship. The dissertation, “The Role of Legal Frameworks in Enabling Transparency in Water Utilities Regulation”, was defended successfully on February 15, 2013. Supervisors were Dr. Sarah Hendry and Prof. Patricia Wouters.

  • Universitaet Bremen: Earned an LLM.Eur in February 2008 (with distinction), majoring in European and International Law. This study was supported by a DAAD Scholarship. The thesis focused on “Obstruction of Performance Under Article 86 (2) of the EC Treaty and its Application to the Water Sector.”

  • Universitas Indonesia: Sarjana Hukum (S.H.), Faculty of Law, August 2003, majoring in International Law.

Current Positions

  • Center for Regulation, Policy and Governance (CRPG): Founding Director (March 2013 - Present). Directs CRPG’s research and consultancy portfolio, manages the organisation and develops partnerships. CRPG’s projects are listed under “CRPG Projects” below. Research positions held at CRPG include Senior Researcher (October 2020 - Present), Researcher (February 2016 - December 2016), Lead Researcher (January 2015 - September 2015), and Principal Investigator (January 2015 - April 2016).

  • Universitas Ibn Khaldun Bogor: Lecturer on Environmental Law and Head of Administrative Law, International Law and Constitutional Law Department (2003 - Present).

CRPG Projects

Projects contracted to and implemented by CRPG as an institution, listed with the contracting client, the funder, the partners and Mova’s position in the project team.

  • Surface and Groundwater Assessment in Indonesia: Serayu-Opak River Basin (April 2026 - Present). Client: Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO). Funder: Australian Government (DFAT), through the Australian Water Partnership (AWP). Partners: CSIRO, University of Technology Sydney, Universitas Gadjah Mada and IPB University, with Bappenas as government counterpart. Position: Team Leader for CRPG and member of the Project Leadership Team. CRPG leads the regulatory framework review, institutional mapping and governance feasibility work.

  • Policy Paper on the Establishment of a Water Sector Regulator (September 2025 - November 2025). Client: Indonesia Australia Partnership for Infrastructure (KIAT), implemented by DT Global. Funder: Australian Government (DFAT). Position: Director, overseeing CRPG’s legal input to the policy paper.

  • Wastewater and Water Quality Regulatory Mapping (August 2025 - February 2026). Client: Water Stewardship Indonesia (Yayasan Aliansi Wali Sumber Daya Air Indonesia). Funder: Australian Government. Position: Team Leader. Mapping of wastewater and water quality regulation and its gaps, review of environmental monitoring systems, and a desktop audit of industrial wastewater discharge.

  • Accelerating Climate Action through Environmental Democracy (July 2025 - August 2025). Client: Westminster Foundation for Democracy (WFD). Funder: UK PACT. Position: Team Leader. Updated the academic paper (Naskah Akademik) and drafted the Climate Change Management Bill (RUU Pengelolaan Perubahan Iklim) to support the Expertise Body (Badan Keahlian) of the Indonesian House of Representatives.

  • Towards Indonesian Sustainable Lake Management (February 2025 - October 2025). Client: CSIRO. Funder: Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR). Partner: National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN). Position: Team Leader. Contribution to a lakes information system and to the governance analysis for Indonesian lakes.

  • Water Tenure Assessment of the Cimanuk River Basin (November 2024 - November 2025). Client: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), under the Indonesia Water Scarcity Programme. Funder: Australian Water Partnership (AWP). Government counterpart: Bappenas. Position: Water Law Expert (Team Leader). Assessed water tenure in the basin and finalised the assessment with the river basin committees.

  • EMISI: Sanitation, Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Climate (July 2024 - February 2026). Client: University of Technology Sydney, Institute for Sustainable Futures (UTS-ISF). Funder: Australian Government (DFAT), through KIAT. Partners: Universitas Indonesia and the University of Leeds. Position: CRPG Team Lead, sanitation governance and regulatory expert. Research on sanitation governance and the political economy of low-carbon sanitation in Indonesia.

  • REAL-Water (Rural Evidence and Learning for Water) Indonesia (March 2024 - September 2024). Client: University of Technology Sydney (UTS). Funder: USAID, through the Aquaya Institute. Partner: Universitas Indonesia. Position: Team Leader. Political economy and legal analysis of rural water services in Bogor, Sijunjung and Timor Tengah Selatan.

  • Future proofing a basic social service: climate-resilient community-based rural water supply (July 2023 - June 2024). Client: University of Technology Sydney (UTS-ISF). Funder: Australian Government (DFAT), through the KONEKSI research grant. Partners: Universitas Indonesia and Universitas Gadjah Mada. Position: co-lead of Component C (Regulation and Policy) and Component D (Policy Engagement).

  • Mapping Indonesia’s Obligations under the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions (August 2021 - November 2021). Client: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia, Directorate General of Multilateral Cooperation. Position: Director.

  • Sanitation and Water for All (SWA) Study on Mutual Accountability Mechanisms in the WASH Sector: Indonesia (August 2020 - December 2020). Client: UTS-ISF. Funder: Sanitation and Water for All, through UNICEF. Partner: IRC. Position: Director and co-author of the Indonesia country brief.

  • Open Government Partnership Water Community of Practice, Indonesia (June 2020 - December 2020). Client: World Resources Institute (WRI). Funder: Stockholm International Water Institute (SIWI). Position: Coordinator of the Community of Practice activities in Indonesia.

  • National Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCB) Management Plan and Extended PCB Inventory (September 2019 - December 2020). Client: PT Petrolab Services, under the UNIDO project “Introduction of an Environmentally-Sound Management and Disposal System for PCB Wastes and PCB-Contaminated Equipment”. Funder: United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO). Position: Expert Advisor on the National PCB Management Plan. Supported the regulatory, policy and technical work of the second phase of Indonesia’s extended PCB inventory.

  • Mercury Supply Restriction and Law Enforcement in Indonesia (June 2019 - June 2021 and May 2023 - September 2023). Client: Biodiversity Research Institute (BRI). Funder: United States Department of State. Partner: Nexus3 Foundation (2023). Position: Director. Regulatory support on artisanal and small-scale gold mining and local action plans; in 2023, a court case database on mercury and cinnabar and draft guidelines for prosecutors.

  • Open Contracting in Water Governance (June 2019 - August 2019). Client: Hivos, under its Strategic Partnership with ARTICLE 19. Funder: Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Position: Director. Research in Jakarta, Central Java and Yogyakarta.

  • Sanitation Programme Governance in West Sumatra and Lampung (October 2017 - March 2018). Client: SNV Netherlands Development Organisation, under the Voice for Change Partnership. Funder: Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Position: Director. Governance research in Padang Pariaman, Sijunjung, Pringsewu and Lampung Selatan.

  • Enterprise in WASH: District Associations of Community-Based Organisations (2017 - 2018). Client: UTS-ISF. Position: co-researcher and co-author of Research Report 10.

  • Developing Effective Governance for Community Scale Sanitation (September 2016 - December 2016). Client: UTS-ISF. Funder: Indonesia Infrastructure Initiative (IndII), Australian Government. Position: CRPG lead. Reviewed national programme guidelines and the use of regional budgets (APBD) for communal sanitation.

  • The Role of Regulatory Frameworks for Ensuring the Sustainability of Community Based Water and Sanitation (2015 - 2016). Australia Indonesia Infrastructure Research Award (AIIRA). Funder: Indonesia Infrastructure Initiative (IndII), Australian Government, managed by SMEC. Partner: UNESCO Centre for Water Law, Policy and Science, University of Dundee. Position: Project Leader and Principal Investigator.

  • Review of Regulation of Jakarta Water Services (January 2014 - May 2014). Client: Jakarta Water Sector Regulatory Body (JWSRB). Position: Consultant. Advised on regulatory reform for JWSRB through a research report.

Individual Consultancies

Engagements in which Mova was contracted in his own name.

  • Asian Development Bank (ADB): Governance Expert (July 2026 - Present). Conducting a governance assessment.

  • World Bank (EACIF): Consultant for Water Regulation (repeated appointments). Key activities include advising the Bank on water resources and irrigation sector reform as well as water supply and sanitation sector reform and more recently on the data center and water nexus.

  • Aguas de Portugal (AdP): Consultant for Indonesian Water Sector Transformation (2024). The project is conducted in collaboration with the World Bank and the Ministry of Public Works. Key activities include advising AdP on the legal framework of the Indonesian water sector, governance and political economy.

  • EFECA: Consultant for CIFOR’s REDD+ Monitoring and Evaluation (2024). Key activities include drafting a report on the REDD+ Global Comparative Study and analysing programme achievements.

  • International Budget Partnership: Consultant for WASH Project Design and Review (2024). Key activities include reviewing reports of WASH and solid waste services baseline studies in project locations, reviewing the budget credibility (BC) angle of the WASH problem in Indonesia, and drafting an analysis of the WASH political economy situation in Indonesia.

  • United Nations Development Programme (UNDP Business and Human Rights Programme): Expert Consultant for Human Rights and Environmental Due Diligence (September 2022 - May 2023). Key activities include drafting an Environmental and Human Rights Due Diligence (EHRDD) framework on Water Pollution and formulating curricula for industry training.

  • International Budget Partnership: Monitoring and Evaluation Consultant (January 2022 - May 2023). Developed a country-specific case study approach and undertook analysis to assess contribution and change factors and mechanisms.

  • IUWASH: Expert Consultant (November 2021 - April 2022). Evaluated the “targeting policy” for the water and sanitation access of the Below 40 community, primarily in urban areas.

  • Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific: Expert Consultant on Water Tenure (October 2021 - March 2022). Conducted a scoping study of Water Tenure in Indonesia and compared the Kahayan Catchment and the Rejoso Catchment in the context of climate change adaptation.

  • Tap Room Ltd.: Member of Monitoring and Evaluation Consultant Team (October 2021 - October 2022) and Evaluation Team (August 2020 - August 2021). Evaluated the Publish What You Pay Indonesia GPSA-World Bank program in mining governance and the International Budget Partnership Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) on Climate Finance Accountability.

  • The World Bank: Expert Consultant on Water Security (June 2020 - March 2021). Conducted institutional and regulatory analysis of the Indonesian water sector.

  • ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR) Regional Research Team: Member (December 2018 - 2019). Reviewed the work of ASEAN Working Group on Water Resources Management (AWGWRM) officials.

  • United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO): Expert on the Drafting of the Ministerial Regulation on Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCB) (October 2018 - March 2019). Reviewed and provided input into the Draft of the Ministerial Regulation.

  • Raoul Wallenberg Institute (RWI): Researcher for the ASEAN-wide study on the Right to Safe Drinking Water, including its toxic waste aspects (August 2018 - December 2018). Reviewed water regulations and policies across all ASEAN countries. Provided research assistance to the UN Special Rapporteur on Toxics.

  • United Nations Development Programme (UNDP): Regulatory Expert (2018 - 2019), Integrated Sound Management of Mercury in Indonesia’s Artisanal and Small Scale Gold Mining (Gold-ISMIA).

  • World Health Organization (WHO): Expert Consultant (April 2018 - September 2019). Reviewed, prepared an academic draft, and drafted provisions for the new Drinking Water Quality Regulation.

  • Hukumonline and Dattabott: Consultant for Data Analysis (April 2016 - April 2017). Provided input to software engineers on analysing regulation/legislation data as well as court decision data for a Machine Learning software.

  • Indonesia Infrastructure Guarantee Fund (IIGF): Consultant on the Regulation of the Drinking Water Supply System (March 2015 - September 2015 & January 2016 - July 2016). Analysed the impact of water regulation and the Constitutional Court Decision on Private Sector Participation.

  • Open Government Partnership Independent Reporting Mechanism (OGP-IRM): Researcher (January 2014 - January 2016). Reviewed Indonesia’s Action Plan formulation, planning, and implementation following the IRM methodology; drafted IRM reports.

  • Presidential Work Unit for Development Monitoring and Oversight (UKP4) and The Asia Foundation: Research Consultant (January 2013 - December 2013). Recommended and identified information flow in the licensing mechanisms of plantation and mining.

Earlier Positions

  • Institut Teknologi Bandung, MBA Program: Guest Lecturer (2013 - 2017). Taught Business Law and Ethics.

  • UNESCO Centre for Water Law, Policy and Science: PhD Researcher (2008 - 2012). Supported the centre in several projects while also researching and writing for the PhD.

  • Soewito Suhardiman Eddymurthy Kardono (SSEK): Associate Lawyer (January 2008 - April 2008). Conducted due diligence, drafted contracts, and research memos for various projects.

  • Max Planck Institute for Comparative and International Private Law, Hamburg: Intern Research Assistant (April 2006 - June 2007). Assisted Senior Researchers in researching alcohol policy in the EU as well as pension and insurance systems in several countries.

  • Lubis Ganie Surowidjojo (LGS): Lawyer (January 2003 - December 2006). Conducted due diligence, wrote legal memos, drafted and negotiated contracts.

Books

  1. Willetts J, Carrard N and Al’Afghani, MM (eds), “Strengthening Systems and Realising Human Rights: Strategies to Progress Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH)”, IWA Publishing, 2023. Link
  2. AlAfghani, MM, “Legal Frameworks for Transparency in Water Utilities Regulation: A Comparative Perspective”, Routledge, 2016. Link

Peer Reviewed Journals and Edited Books

  1. AlAfghani, MM, Lee, J and Yasuda, Y, ‘Potential Contribution of the Water Tenure Approach to the Implementation of International Norms Applicable to River Basins’, Journal of Energy & Natural Resources Law 43(4) (2025), 763–786. Link
  2. Al’Afghani, MM and Bisariyadi, B, ‘Celah Hukum yang Terselubung: Problematika Regulasi Peran Swasta dalam Pelayanan Air Minum’ (A Hidden Legal Loophole: The Complexity of Regulating the Private Sector in Drinking Water Services), Jurnal Konstitusi 22(2) (2025), 354–378. Link
  3. AlAfghani, MM, ‘Strengths and Limitations of The Indonesian Constitutional Court’s “6 Basic Principles” in Resolving Water Conflicts’, Constitutional Review 9(1) (2023). Link
  4. AlAfghani, MM and Susetyo, B, ‘Water Tenure Security for Palm Oil, Hydropower, and Geothermal’, IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science, Volume 1199 (2023), 2nd ASEAN International Conference on Energy and Environment, 13-15 September 2022, Phnom Penh, Cambodia. Link
  5. Willetts J, Carrard N and AlAfghani, MM, ‘Editorial: Systems Strengthening and Human Rights as Entry Points for WASH’, H2Open Journal 5(4) (2022), 686–690. Link
  6. Olawuyi, DS, Bratspies, R, Gjerde, KM, Deva, S, Harden-Davies, H, Pouponneau, A, Al’Afghani, MM, Siswandi, AG, Natarajan, U and Rantala, S, ‘Environmental Law toward Sustainability Targets’, One Earth 5(6) (2022), 577–581. Link
  7. Dickin, S and others, ‘Assessing Mutual Accountability to Strengthen National WASH Systems and Achieve the SDG Targets for Water and Sanitation’, H2Open Journal 5(2) (2022), 166. Link
  8. AlAfghani, MM and Bisariyadi, B, ‘Konsep Regulasi Berbasis Risiko: Telaah Kritis dalam Penerapannya pada Undang-Undang Cipta Kerja’ (Risk Based Regulation: Critique of Its Adoption in the Job Creation Law), Jurnal Konstitusi 18(1) (March 2021). Link
  9. Willetts, J, Mills, F and Al’Afghani, MM, ‘Sustaining Community-Scale Sanitation Services: Co-management by Local Government and Low-Income Communities in Indonesia’, Frontiers in Environmental Science 8 (2020). Link
  10. Al’Afghani, MM, ‘Alienating the Private Sector: Implications of the Invalidation of the Water Law by the Indonesian Constitutional Court’, Journal of Water Law 26(3). Link
  11. Al’Afghani, MM, Kohlitz, J and Willetts, J, ‘Not Built to Last: Improving Legal and Institutional Arrangements for Community-Based Water and Sanitation Service Delivery in Indonesia’, Water Alternatives 12(1) (2019), 285–303. Link
  12. AlAfghani, MM and Paramita, D, ‘Regulatory Challenges in the Phasing-Out of Persistent Organic Pollutants in Indonesia’, International Chemical Regulatory and Law Review 1(1) (2018), 12–27. Link
  13. AlAfghani, MM, ‘Anti-Privatisation Debates, Opaque Rules and “Privatised” Water Services Provision: Some Lessons from Indonesia’ in Nicol, A, Mehta, L and Allouche, J (eds), IDS Bulletin: ‘Some for All?’ Politics and Pathways in Water and Sanitation, vol 43.2 (Institute of Development Studies and Wiley-Blackwell 2012). Link
  14. AlAfghani, MM, ‘The Transparency Agenda in Water Utilities Regulation and the Role of Freedom of Information: England and Jakarta Case Studies’, The Journal of Water Law, Special Issue, Vol. 20, Issues 2/3 (2010), 129–143.
  15. AlAfghani, MM, ‘Religious Freedom in Indonesia before and after Constitutional Amendments’, in Critical Thinkers for Islamic Reforms (Brainbow Press 2009). Link
  16. AlAfghani, MM, ‘Safeguarding Water Contracts in Indonesia’, Law, Environment and Development Journal 3/2 (2007), 148. Link
  17. AlAfghani, MM, ‘Constitutional Court’s Review and the Future of Water Law in Indonesia’, Law, Environment and Development Journal 2/1 (2006). Link
  18. AlAfghani, MM, ‘Kampanye Melawan Terorisme telah Merusak Tatanan Hukum’ (The Campaign Against Terrorism Has Disrupted the Legal Order), Jurnal Teropong MAPPI (Masyarakat Pemantau Peradilan Indonesia), November 2002.

Reports

  • AlAfghani, MM and Lees, S, Clean Water and The Business and Human Rights Agenda: A Case Study of the Citarum River, UNDP, 2024.
  • AlAfghani, MM and Lees, S, Human Rights and Environmental Due Diligence in Asia: A Clean Water Self Assessment, UNDP, 2024.
  • Shutt, C and AlAfghani, MM, Final Evaluation of the Citizen Monitoring for Transparency and Accountability of Licensing and Revenue Management in the Mining Sector Project, World Bank, 2022.
  • Al’Afghani, MM, “Water Tenure in Indonesia,” FAO, 2022.
  • Khalil, A and others, Indonesia Vision 2045: Toward Water Security (Policy Note), World Bank, 2021.
  • Al’Afghani, MM and Qowamuna, NA, “Regulasi dan Kebijakan Terkait dengan Penyediaan Air Minum bagi Masyarakat B40 di Perkotaan,” PSKK-UGM and IUWASH, 2021.
  • Qowamuna, N, Al’Afghani, MM, Willetts, J and Winterford, K, “Strengthening Mutual Accountability and Partnerships for WASH, Country Brief, Indonesia,” SWA, CRPG and ISF-UTS, 2021.
  • Cunningham, R, Al’Afghani, MM, Qowamuna, NA, Winterford, K and Willetts, J, “Sanitation and Water for All (SWA): Mapping WASH Actors in Indonesia Using Social Network Analysis,” University of Technology Sydney, 2020.
  • Geall, S and Al’Afghani, MM, The Right to Safe Water in Southeast Asia, Raoul Wallenberg Institute, 2020.
  • Soeters, S, Al’Afghani, MM, Avessina, J and Willetts, J, “Supporting Sustainable Rural Water Service Delivery: District Association of Community-Based Organizations in Indonesia. Enterprise in WASH – Research Report 10,” ISF-UTS, 2018.
  • Avessina, MJ, AlAfghani, MM, Anggraini, N and Maulana, M, “Tata Kelola Sanitasi di Empat Kabupaten (Sanitation Governance in Four Regencies),” CRPG and SNV Netherlands, August 2018.
  • AlAfghani, MM, Widiyatmoko, P and Crow, C, “Indonesia: End of Term Report,” Independent Reporting Mechanism, Open Government Partnership, 2017.
  • AlAfghani, MM and Widiyatmoko, P, “Indonesia: Third Progress Report,” Independent Reporting Mechanism, Open Government Partnership, 2017.
  • Al’Afghani, MM, Prayitno, DE, Mills, F and Willetts, J, “Increasing Local Government Responsibility for Communal Scale Sanitation; Part 2: Using Regional Budget (APBD) to Support Post-Construction Sustainability of Communal Sanitation,” Indonesia Infrastructure Initiative, December 2016.
  • Mills, F, Willetts, J and Al’Afghani, MM, “Increasing Local Government Responsibility for Communal Scale Sanitation; Part 1: Review of National Program Guidelines and Two City Case Studies,” Indonesia Infrastructure Initiative, December 2016.
  • Al’Afghani, MM and Paramita, D, “Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) Phasing-Out Regulation in Indonesia: Final Report,” United Nations Industrial Development Organization and the Ministry of Environment and Forestry, Republic of Indonesia, 2016.
  • Al’Afghani, MM, Paramita, D, Avessina, MJ, Muhajir, MA and Heriati, F, “The Role of Regulatory Frameworks for Ensuring the Sustainability of Community Based Water and Sanitation,” Australia Indonesia Infrastructure Research Award, Indonesia Infrastructure Initiative, 2016.
  • Al’Afghani, MM, Paramita, D, Mitchell, C and Ross, K, Review of Regulatory Framework for Local Scale “Air Limbah”, Center for Regulation, Policy and Governance, Universitas Ibn Khaldun Bogor and Institute for Sustainable Futures, UTS, 2015.
  • Al’Afghani, MM, Independent Reporting Mechanism: Indonesia Special Accountability Report, Open Government Partnership, 2014.
  • AlAfghani, MM, “Review of Regulation of Jakarta Water Services,” Jakarta Water Sector Regulatory Body, 2014.
  • Saragih, AA, AlAfghani, MM and Yasin, M, “Transparansi Perizinan Dalam Sektor Pertambangan dan Perkebunan,” Unit Kerja Presiden Bidang Pengawasan dan Pengendalian Pembangunan (UKP4), 2014.
  • AlAfghani, MM, “Review of Community-Based Water and Sanitation Draft Regional By-Law for the Sikka Regency, East Nusa Tenggara,” Dropbydrop, Watsan Working Group of NTT Province and UNICEF, 2012.
  • AlAfghani, MM, “Transparency in DKI Jakarta’s Drinking Water Utilities Regulatory Bodies,” ECOTAS and Tifa Foundation, August 2011.
  • “Contribution to Global Water Partnership Integrated Water Resources Management Toolbox C6.03: Water Services,” Global Water Partnership, 2011.
  • AlAfghani, MM, “Feasibility Study of Right to Water and Sanitation Pilot Project in Indonesia,” Both Ends, August 2009.

Selected Op-eds

  1. We are confronting an acute conflict-of-interest crisis, The Jakarta Post, October 24, 2023
  2. New EU sustainability rules will impact ASEAN industries, The Jakarta Post, September 8, 2023 (with Suryani Motik)
  3. AI race: The future is coming too fast, The Jakarta Post, March 31, 2023
  4. Why wealthy countries and companies need to do more to clean up global toxic chemical pollution, The Conversation, April 21, 2022 (with Dyah Paramita)
  5. Open government improves water services, The Jakarta Post, August 6, 2018
  6. Can the court’s concern over water privatization be justified? (Part 2 of 2), The Jakarta Post, March 10, 2015
  7. Court decision brings water governance reforms to a halt (Part 1 of 2), The Jakarta Post, March 9, 2015
  8. Toward community water supply, The Jakarta Post, March 22, 2013
  9. The elements of ‘state control’, The Jakarta Post, January 14, 2013
  10. The new governor and Jakarta’s drinking water problem, The Jakarta Post, October 20, 2012
  11. Incoherence in the debate over ‘privatization’, The Jakarta Post, July 22, 2012; republished by the New Straits Times and The Malaysian Insider
  12. Authority in water resources conservation, The Jakarta Post, June 30, 2012
  13. When It Comes to Water Services, Jakarta Is Living in the Distant Past, The Jakarta Globe, October 16, 2011 (archived copy)
  14. RI water services suffering from a lack of governance, The Jakarta Post, March 30, 2010
  15. Indonesia needs a strong water services law, The Jakarta Post, August 31, 2009
  16. Can public service law be applied to private sector?, The Jakarta Post, July 14, 2009
  17. The need for clarification on HP-3 rights, The Jakarta Post, May 14, 2009
  18. Water services transparency, The Jakarta Post, March 20, 2009
  19. Coastal management law review?, The Jakarta Post, April 15, 2008
  20. Access to water is a fundamental human right, The Jakarta Post, July 10, 2007
  21. The ultimate risks of water privatization, The Jakarta Post, May 16, 2007 (archived copy)
  22. Is Technology turning privacy into an endangered species?, The Jakarta Post, October 20, 2006
  23. The fourth generation of human rights, The Jakarta Post, September 4, 2006 (archived copy)
  24. Lebanon Crisis and Unrestricted Warfare, The Jakarta Post, August 4, 2006
  25. Developing Countries Must be Ready for Nanotechnology, The Jakarta Post, February 27, 2006
  26. Prophet Muhammad Cartoons and Freedom of Expression, The Jakarta Post, February 18, 2006
  27. Nanotechnology requires legal umbrella, The Jakarta Post, January 20, 2006; republished by IP Frontline Magazine
  28. IP Strategy for Developing Nations, The Jakarta Post, December 24, 2005
  29. Limited implementation of sharia in Aceh, The Jakarta Post, July 13, 2005 (archived copy)
  30. Hyperregulated Society and Its Discontents, The Jakarta Post, June 28, 2005
  31. Indonesia Needs to Support Access to Knowledge Treaty, The Jakarta Post, June 18, 2005; republished by IP Frontline Magazine
  32. Indonesian Copyright Law not copyleft-friendly, The Jakarta Post, May 27, 2005
  33. Extradition treaty must exclude terrorism, The Jakarta Post, March 14, 2005 (with Bambang Widjojanto; archived copy)
  34. Spread of ‘Preemptive-ism’ and Indonesia Sovereignty, The Jakarta Post, October 7, 2004
  35. Labor Strike Procedure in Indonesia, Legal Brief, Center for Law Information (CeLI)
  36. Can a State Imply Censorship towards the Internet?, Center for Law Information (CeLI)

Selected Workshops and Conferences

  1. Rome Water Dialogue 2026, World Food Forum, FAO Headquarters, Rome, 12 October 2026. Panellist in the Technical Session “Strengthening governance of water tenure through innovation and inclusive dialogue” (CRPG report).
  2. Invited speaker, Pusat Riset Hukum (Law Research Centre), National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), 20 August 2026: “Reformasi Tata Kelola Air Minum” (Drinking Water Governance Reform).
  3. Regional Dialogue on Water Tenure, Bangkok, May 2026. Poster: “Water tenure as a sustainability tool”.
  4. FAO “Water Tenure Mondays” webinar, 8 December 2025. Presented a water tenure assessment in Indonesia.
  5. World Lake Conference, “What is the lake for?” (Presentation), Brisbane, 21-25 July 2025.
  6. Water Tenure Expert Meeting, Food and Agriculture Organization, Rome, 27-28 May 2025.
  7. 10th World Water Forum, Session SE24: Access to Clean Water and the Business and Human Rights Agenda in Asia, Bali, Indonesia, May 23, 2024.
  8. United Nations Corporate Sustainability and Environmental Rights in Asia Conference, UN Conference Centre Bangkok, Thailand, 4-5 October 2023. Presented a talk on Clean Seas & Rivers in Asia: Promising Approaches to Tackling Water Pollution. Video of the session.
  9. 5th Indonesian Constitutional Court International Symposium “Constitutional Court and Conflict Resolution”, Bali, 5-7 October 2022. Presented a paper titled “Strengths and Limitations of The Constitutional Court’s ‘6 Basic Principles’ as a Normative Guidance in Resolving Water Conflicts”. Paper available here.
  10. 2nd ASEAN International Conference on Energy and Environment, Phnom Penh, 14-15 September 2022. Presented a paper titled “The Relative Strength of Water Tenure Security for Oil Palm and Hydropower: A Preliminary Study” (co-authored with Budi Susetyo).
  11. Law and Society Association 2021 Annual Meeting, “Crisis, Healing, Re-Imagining”. Presented a paper titled “Improving Indonesia’s Job Creation Law’s Risk Based Framework through Systematic Data Collection and Algorithm: A Proposal for (Surface) Water Quality Regulation” (co-authored with Nishrin Qowamuna).
  12. Open Government Partnership Asia Pacific Regional Meeting, Seoul, South Korea, November 6, 2018. Delivered a presentation titled “Delivering More Meaningful Water Commitment” in the session “Stepping Stones to Achieving Innovative Public Service Delivery Commitments in Asia: Health, Education, and Water”.
  13. Regional Research Initiative on Human Rights, Bangkok, Thailand, 26-30 March 2018 and Jakarta, Indonesia, 10-12 September 2018, organized by the Raoul Wallenberg Institute. Presented a paper titled “Human Rights Implications of Community-Based Water and Sanitation in Indonesia”.
  14. 38th International Symposium on Halogenated Persistent Organic Pollutants & 10th International PCB Workshop, Krakow, Poland, 26-31 August 2018. Delivered a presentation titled “Regulatory Challenges in the Phasing Out of Persistent Organic Pollutants in Indonesia”.
  15. Open Government Global Summit, Tbilisi, Georgia, July 17-19, 2018. Spoke at the session “Communities, Inequality, and Water: Who Receives Water, When, and at What Price – Can Open Government Make a Difference?“.
  16. Open Government Partnership Global Summit, Mexico City, Mexico, October 2015. Delivered Indonesia’s Open Government Partnership IRM Report 2015.
  17. Putting Public in Public Services: Research, Action and Equity in the Global South International Conference, Cape Town, South Africa, April 13-16, 2014. Presented “The State Retreats and Never Returns: Consequences of Neoliberal Reforms on Administrative Law Protection in Indonesia”. Available at SSRN.
  18. Expert Meeting on Freedom of Expression, Freedom of Information and The Right to Water, Article 19, London, February 19-22, 2014. Advised Article 19 on drafting “The Free Flow Principles: Freedom of Expression and Rights to Water and Sanitation”.
  19. Member and Team Leader of the Indonesian Team to the 2nd Temasek Foundation Water Leadership Program (TFWLP Fellowship), held by the Institute of Water Policy at the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, Singapore, April 23 – May 4, 2012.
  20. STEPS II Conference “Liquid Dynamics”, IDS, Sussex, UK, March 22-23, 2011. Background paper: “Anti-privatization debate, opaque rules and neglected ‘privatised’ water services provision: some lessons from Indonesia”. Available at SSRN.
  21. World Water Week Seminar “Human Rights Based Approach to Improving Water Quality”, organized by Both ENDS, UNESCO Etxea, UNDP and Swedish Water House, Stockholm, September 9, 2010. Delivered a presentation on “The Potential Role of the Human Right to Water in the Management of Indonesia’s Water Resources”. Paper available here.
  22. Expert Consultation on the Human Rights Aspects of Private Sector Participation in Water and Sanitation, at the invitation of the UN Independent Expert on the Right to Water and Sanitation and the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung, Geneva, 25-27 January 2010. Advised UN Independent Expert Catarina de Albuquerque on the implications of private sector participation for human rights.
  23. Anticipating Water Market, SURED-GAWN workshop on sustainable land and water management, Jakarta, April 2008.
  24. Safeguarding Water Contracts in Indonesia, Workshop on the “Legal Aspects of Water Sector Reform”, organised by the International Environmental Law Research Centre (IELRC), Geneva, 20-21 April 2007. Proceedings available here.

Other Engagements

  1. 2024 - Member of the Indonesian Ministry of Health Expert Committee on Environmental Health.
  2. 2024 - Involved in establishing the Water Law Working Group under the Global Forum on Law, Justice and Development.
  3. 2024 - Featured in “Asia in Focus” — Clean Water and the Business and Human Rights Agenda (World Water Forum Special Edition).
  4. 2023 - Present - Member of the FAO Water Tenure Expert Group.
  5. 2023 - Present - Affiliate member of the International Water Law Academy (IWLA).
  6. 2022 - Expert and speaker at the Make Rights Real Initiative. Link
  7. 2022 - Featured as one of the speakers in Asia in Focus, UNDP Business and Human Rights Agenda. Link
  8. 2022 - Participated in an expert consultation with the UN Special Rapporteur on the Human Rights to Safe Drinking Water and Sanitation regarding rural water supply, 21-25 April 2022.
  9. 2020 - 2021 - Member of the Advisory Committee for Water and Open Government, SIWI, WRI and Open Government Partnership (Link 1), (Link 2).
  10. 2020 - Provided input and critique to the House of Representatives regarding Risk Based Regulation applied in the Draft Job Creation Law, June 9, 2020.
  11. 2019 - Contributed to the drafting of Indonesia’s Water Resources Law (Law 17/2019).
  12. 2018 - 2019 - Member of Jakarta’s Water Governance Team, advising the Jakarta Governor on Water Services and Resources Management.
  13. 2015 - Present - Member of Jejaring AMPL (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Network), Indonesia, currently serving as Coordinator for the Research Cluster.
  14. 2013 - 2019 - Member of WaterLex.
  15. 2012 - Present - Member of the Indonesian Freedom of Information Network (FOINI).
  16. 2012 - Contributor to the Marseille 2012 World Water Forum Target and Solution Groups 1 (Stakeholders’ engagement for effective water policy and management) and 2 (Performance measurement, regulation and capacity building in the water sector).
  17. 2011 - Involved in the preparation of the GOLD II Report with the UNESCO Centre for Water Law, Policy and Science/UCLG.
  18. 2011 - Member of the International Water Association Task Force on Stakeholders Engagement.
  19. 2005 - Present - Member of the Task Force on Implications and Policies, Center for Responsible Nanotechnology (CRN), a nanotech policy think tank based in New York.

Fellowships

  1. Raoul Wallenberg Institute Fellowship, Regional Research Initiative on Human Rights, 2018.
  2. 2nd Temasek Foundation Water Leadership Program (TFWLP Fellowship), 2012.

Scholarships

  1. 2008-2011, PhD Studentship at the UNESCO Centre for Water Law, Policy and Science, University of Dundee, UK.
  2. 2006-2008, Recipient, Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst (DAAD) “Study Scholarships for Graduates of All Disciplines”, Scholarship for a Post-Graduate Study of Law in Germany.

Last updated: October 2026

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