The Introductory Phase of Promoting Leadership for Integrated Development program (PLID) was conducted in Kebumen District (4-6 August, 2008), and Wonosobo District (5-7 August, 2008). These launching sessions of PLID, opened by the Head of the District, Ms. Rustriningsih of Kebumen District and Mr. Kholiq Arif of Wonosobo District, were also attended by Ms Darwina Widjajanti, Executive Director of Yayasan Pembangunan Berkelanjutan (YPB). The two districts are the first partners of YPB for the PLID program, with the support from LEAD International with its Special Opportunity Funds.

PLID participants are the second echelon of the district officials, or Kepala Dinas (Head of Division). Each district sent about 30 participants. The sessions were chaired by Bayu Ludvianto, a LEAD Fellow, as the Project Coordinator. The first session covered the elements of Public Leadership and Sustainable Development. Ahmad Baehaqi from Bogor Agriculture Institute and Bayu facilitated the Public Leadership session to promote stronger commitment of the participants as public servants, a noble function for public welfare.

Asep Suntana (LEAD Fellow, cohort 7) from Lembaga Ekolabel Indonesia led the session on the Understanding of Sustainable Development, Ani Mardiastuti (also LEAD Fellow from cohort 7) shared the knowledge of Ecological Footprints, while Chandra Wirman and Emil Sumirat (LEAD Fellows, cohort 10) from private consultancy company facilitated the session on System Thinking as the tool of problems formulation and potential solutions. Paulus Wirutomo from University of Indonesia elaborated the meaning of social justice and social policy, while Kemal Taruc from University of Tarumanagara promoted Ethical Decision Making to participants as a crucial element for public policy decision makers.

On the last day of the Introductory Phase the participants committed to work on the case study analysis in the next Insight Phase. For this next phase, the participants will learn from YPB policy and leadership case study collection using the paradigm of sustainable development, and apply it to the local case study. At the final stage, each District is expected to be able to develop a document on "Road Map Toward Sustainable Development Strategy." PLID program will be completed by the end of December 2008, in a workshop session with potential donor agencies for the case of Kebumen District and of Wonosobo District.