Gendered social–ecological resilience: Reinterpreting Inong Balee’s role in Aceh’s post-conflict recovery

Abstract

Background: This study examines gendered social–ecological resilience by reinterpreting the role of Inong Balee in post-conflict Aceh. While the recovery of Aceh following the 2005 Helsinki Peace Agreement involved both political and socio-economic reconstruction, the gendered and ecological dimensions of post-conflict recovery have received comparatively limited scholarly attention. Methods: This study employed a qualitative descriptive approach based on literature analysis. Data were drawn from academic publications, institutional reports, policy documents, and reports from humanitarian and local organizations. The materials were analysed thematically using an integrated framework of social–ecological resilience, feminist political ecology, and the ethics of care. Findings: The findings indicate that Inong Balee have redefined their post-conflict roles through community-based initiatives centred on care, cooperation, and local resource management. Their collective practices strengthen social cohesion and ecological sustainability, demonstrating that resilience is a relational and gendered process rooted in everyday community life, with formal institutional arrangements serving only a complementary role. Conclusion: This study argues that post-conflict resilience in Aceh is sustained through women's everyday practices of care, solidarity, and environmental stewardship. By integrating social–ecological resilience, feminist political ecology, and the ethics of care, it offers an alternative perspective for understanding women's contributions to post-conflict recovery and sustainable peace. Novelty/Originality of this article: This study develops an integrated analytical framework that reinterprets Inong Balee's post-conflict roles through the intersection of social–ecological resilience, feminist political ecology, and the ethics of care, highlighting women's everyday practices as a foundation of sustainable peace.