Transforming Village Governance: The Impact of Village Development Boards on Community Participation, Indonesian Case Study

Abstract

This article examines the transformative potential of Village Development Boards (VDBs) in improving governance and enhancing community participation in Indonesian villages. Through case studies, it reveals that effective VDBs foster transparent and accountable governance structures, promoting greater community involvement in decision-making processes. However, challenges such as weak institutional capacity, inadequate understanding of roles, corruption, and limited resources hinder their full potential. Notable examples include institutional weaknesses in Desa Golo Manting and Desa Panasen, and corruption issues in Desa Karanganyar, contrasting with the more effective participatory governance in Desa Mekarharja. Future research should focus on enhancing VDB effectiveness through advanced training, capacity-building, and technological innovations. The findings suggest that VDBs, strengthened by robust legal frameworks and inclusive practices, can significantly contribute to sustainable and equitable rural development, turning villages into active development participants. This underscores the importance of evolving and refining VDBs to realize national development goals from the grassroots level.