Policy Network on the Kotaku Program in the Global South: Findings from Palembang, Indonesia

Abstract

Various programs have been implemented around the world to achieve slum upgrading, including in the city of Palembang, Indonesia, through the Kotaku Program. This program has been implemented since 2016 with a target of upgrading slum areas by 2020. However, the program has not reached the target. This study aims to identify the failure factors of not achieving the goal. This research uses a qualitative case study by conducting in-depth interviews with 20 various actors (i.e., government, academics, society, and media) involved in the Kotaku Program in Palembang City. Based on the policy network theory perspective, this research found three challenges in achieving the target, namely: (1) lack of collaboration between parties; (2) unclear roles of policy actors in housing and settlements; (3) the difficulty of building trust between actors to work together. From the interviews, new factors were found, including caring and integrity as influencing factors of the actor relationship intensity in a policy network. Consequently, to achieve success with the Kotaku Program, the aspect of the collaboration, trust, caring, integrity among stakeholders, and the aspect of the clarity of the role of the policy actors should be considered.