COMMUNITY-DRIVEN GOVERNANCE FOR STUNTING REDUCTION IN DECENTRALIZED INDONESIA: OVERCOMING FRAGMENTATION THROUGH PARTICIPATION

Abstract

Stunting remains a critical public health and governance challenge in Indonesia, particularly in decentralized regions such as East Lombok, where prevalence rates exceed national targets. Despite the adoption of a national convergence policy integrating health, nutrition, sanitation, and education, local implementation remains fragmented, with weak intersectoral coordination, limited community engagement, and underdeveloped accountability mechanisms. This qualitative single-case study critically examines the systemic and operational causes of fragmentation in East Lombok’s stunting reduction efforts. Data were collected through 15 in- depth interviews, two focus group discussions with 20 participants, and field observations in five high-prevalence villages. Analysis employed manual matrix coding aligned with the Community- Driven Governance (CDG) model, integrating Collaborative Governance, Community-Driven Development, Social Accountability, and the SAFE Framework. Findings reveal six interconnected governance gaps: procedural rather than influential participatory decision-making, exclusionary public forums, low community data literacy, weak social accountability mechanisms, uneven leadership quality, and fragmented horizontal institutional integration. These deficiencies reinforce one another, creating a self-perpetuating cycle that limits policy effectiveness. The study proposes a CDG model operationalized through six measurable indicators to reposition communities as co-creators in governance, supported by joint planning, shared accountability, and inclusive leadership. This model offers a context-specific framework for participatory and integrated governance in stunting reduction, contributing to theoretical debates on decentralized policy implementation and providing actionable recommendations for policymakers. The findings have broader implications for achieving Sustainable Development Goals 1, 2, 3, and 17, emphasizing the need for simultaneous reforms across multiple governance dimensions.