Stories When missions align: Inside GAR’s growing network of purposeful partnerships

“When I was offered the chance to lead the partnerships team, it caught me off guard – in a good way,” says Alwi Hafiz, Head of Strategic Partnerships at Sinar Mas Agribusiness and Food. “It wasn’t something I had planned, but it became one of the most meaningful chapters of my career.”

At first glance, managing sustainability partnerships across one of the world’s largest agribusiness companies might sound like like a job heavy on paperwork– co-funding agreements, partner reports, contracts. But through Alwi’s eyes, it’s something much more personal: it is about building trust, finding common ground, and turning shared goals into tangible outcomes for people and the planet.

Whether it’s restoring degraded peatlands with global brands, improving livelihoods for smallholders, or working hand-in-hand with communities on the ground, our partnerships are not just about business – they are about creating meaningful, lasting change.

A surprise that sparked something bigger

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Building something bigger: Alwi and partners visit the co-funded BPA in Libo Estate, where better facilities and empowered caregivers are transforming early education in rural communities.

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Restoring nature, together: Alwi joins partners from PepsiCo and Nestlé on site in Sarolangun, Jambi, where a shared commitment to peatland rehabilitation is helping revive ecosystems and uplift local communities.

The role came as a surprise – but it turned out to be a career-defining shift.

Having spent most of his professional life in client-facing roles, the shift to sustainability partnerships could have felt unfamiliar. But instead, it felt like coming home. “Partnerships let me use everything I’d built – my network, my relationship skills – and apply it toward something meaningful,” he says. “It’s not just about KPIs. It’s about aligning missions and seeing the real-world impact that comes from it.”

Collective for Impact: Doing good, together

For Alwi, strong partnership begins with alignment.

“The best collaborations start when both sides care about the same outcomes,” he says.

At Sinar Mas Agribusiness and Food, partnerships are guided by the company’s Collective for Impact framework – an approach that focuses on joining forces with partners who bring not only resources, but also fresh perspectives and a shared purpose.

Some of the most valuable changes have come from this openness. One partner, for instance, suggested tracking female participation in a programme – a metric we hadn’t initially included. “We saw the value and made it part of how we measure success,” he says.

“Doing good” means building trust, valuing shared purpose, and acting on it. It all stems from a simple belief: doing good and doing well can, and should, go hand in hand.

What collaboration looks like on the ground: Stories from the field

From peatland rehabilitation to smallholder training, our partnerships are as diverse as the challenges we take on. But behind every project is a common goal: turning shared intent into measurable impact.

Peatland rehabilitation in West Kalimantan

In one of our largest projects to date, a 2,600-hectare of degraded peatland are being restored in West Kalimantan, initially with L’Oréal and now Nestlé. The partnership combines ecological recovery, sustainable water management, alternative livelihoods, and biodiversity conservation.

Smallholder empowerment in North Sumatra

Through the Sawit Terampil programme in Langkat, North Sumatra with IDH, we have trained over 3,000 independent smallholders and helped map more than 3,000 hectares of plantations. More than 500 farmers are now on track for RSPO and ISPO certification. Past and current collaborators include Mars, Mondelez, Fuji Oil, and Neste – all committed building more sustainable supply chains.

Community childcare initiatives in Riau

In Riau, the co-funded Balai Penitipan Anak (BPA) or childcare centre initiative – supported by ADM Cares and Tzu Chi – upgrades facilities and trains caregivers. But it also sparked deeper local engagement, with more Dharma Wanita members volunteering and taking ownership of the initiative.

“These are just a few examples,” Alwi notes. “We’ve developed nearly 20 partnerships so far – some completed, others ongoing. What makes them work isn’t just money. It’s the ideas, the shared vision, and the trust we build along the way.”

Why partners stay

For many of our partners, the first project is rarely the last.

“What makes them come back is simple,” Alwi says. “We deliver.”

From meeting shared goals to keeping teams on the ground accountable, we have built a track record of following through. Site visits help deepen connections, showing first-hand how communities benefit.

It’s also about how the partnerships feel. Rather than being transactional, they are collaborative. Many partners contribute beyond funding – they challenge, shape, and elevate ideas.

“We listen. We adapt. We grow together,” he adds. “And that’s why our partners keep choosing to do more with us.”

In their words: The ADM partnership

For ADM, sustainability starts with people. That belief brought them together with GAR and Tzu Chi Indonesia in 2023, with a goal to uplift rural communities in Riau through early education and livelihood support.

“We saw a unique opportunity,” said Corey Sikorski, ADM’s Southeast Asia Business Manager for Global Trade. “GAR has deep roots in the region. Tzu Chi has strong community trust. Together, we can do more and do it well.”

The results spoke for themselves. Over 760 children benefited from improved childcare centres, and hundreds of caregivers received training. Community learning centres also helped families gain new skills and grow small businesses.

But what truly stood out was the human impact: joyful children, proud teachers, and inspired women stepping forward to volunteer.

In 2025, ADM renewed the partnership. The next phase focuses on hydroponic farming, nutrition, and better early education – reaching more households in Lubuk Gaung.

“This reflects our shared commitment to building stronger, more resilient communities,” Corey said. “With purpose and the right partners, meaningful change grows.”

About Alwi:

Alwi Hafiz is the Head of Strategic Partnerships at Golden Agri-Resources (GAR)/Sinar Mas Agribusiness and Food. He leads GAR’s efforts to build meaningful collaborations that scale impact across conservation, smallholder support, and community development. With a background in client-facing leadership roles at BSI Group and Hewlett-Packard, Alwi brings a strong mix of commercial insight and purpose-driven strategy to his work on the ground.

These stories are just a glimpse of what’s possible when we do good together. Explore our full approach to sustainable impact: Collective for Impact.