POLICY CAPACITY AND LOCAL GOVERNANCE IN POVERTY ALLEVIATION: THE ROLE OF REGIONAL COUNCILS IN WEST SULAWESI, INDONESIA

Abstract

This study examines the policy capacity of the Regional People’s Representative Council (DPRD) of West Sulawesi in budgeting for poverty alleviation within Indonesia’s decentralized governance framework. Using a qualitative case study approach, the research assesses analytical, operational, and political dimensions through interviews, focus groups, and budget data from 2023–2024. Findings reveal major weaknesses: limited use of multidimensional poverty data, fragmented and poorly coordinated programs, and underdeveloped participatory mechanisms. These institutional gaps constrain the DPRD’s role in poverty reduction despite formal mandates. Beyond Indonesia, similar challenges exist in Asia, including India and the Philippines, where fiscal authority is devolved without sufficient institutional strengthening. By applying the policy capacity framework to a legislative body, this study offers a novel analytical perspective and concludes with practical recommendations for data-informed planning, integrated management, and participatory budgeting, contributing to debates on decentralization, governance, and institutional effectiveness.