DANA and Ant International, in collaboration with Konservasi Indonesia, have launched the Ocean Buddy initiative, an interactive in-app mini programme aimed at raising awareness and promoting public participation in marine conservation among DANA’s 200 million users in Indonesia.
The initiative was announced at the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) World Conservation Congress 2025 in Abu Dhabi.
Drawing on the concept of Ant Forest, a digital environmental advocacy programme, Ocean Buddy uses gamification and visual design to encourage ongoing user engagement in conservation efforts, with a focus on protecting whale sharks along the southern coast of Java.
The initiative aligns with DANA’s environmental, social and governance (ESG) objectives, particularly in enhancing climate resilience for both the company and the broader Indonesian community.
Indonesia, the world’s largest archipelagic state, is home to the largest population of whale sharks globally, a plankton-feeding species that plays a key role in maintaining ecological balance.
According to Konservasi Indonesia, whale shark populations across the Indo-Pacific have fallen by as much as 63% over the past 75 years due to stranding and other threats.
Ocean Buddy forms part of Programme Sirius, Ant International’s flagship initiative, in which 13 global e-wallet leaders, including DANA, collaborate to make sustainability accessible through digital innovation.
Ant International introduced its Sustainability Framework in June 2025, focusing on collaborative sustainability, inclusion and trust initiatives across its payment and fintech operations.
In 2024, Programme Sirius launched AquaViva at COP29, a global programme aimed at advancing marine conservation through open collaboration.
Vince Iswara, CEO and Co-Founder of DANA Indonesia, said:
“Through the Ocean Buddy initiative, we want to prove that technological innovation is not only an engine for economic growth; it is also a powerful gateway to popular participation in protecting our marine and land ecosystems, to a sustainable as well as prosperous future for generations to come.”
Leiming Chen, Chief Sustainability Officer at Ant International, added:
“Ant International’s mission is to build inclusive, sustainable growth through innovation and open collaboration. Through co-building innovative solutions and learning from each other, together we will be able to build a greener and more prosperous future from local to global.”
Ocean Buddy translates DANA users’ daily online activities into offline conservation projects through a cumulative-score ranking and an Impact Coins system.
These projects include first-response training for stranded marine mammals and the protection of whale shark habitats, with all educational content verified by Konservasi Indonesia.
The partners plan to expand Ocean Buddy’s coverage and network of collaborators, while developing new features to further support nationwide conservation advocacy and action.
Featured image credit: Ant International
