The Development of a Village Bureaucratic Reform Model Based on Mutual Cooperation: A Study on the Development of Underdeveloped Villages in East Nusa Tenggara

Bureaucratic reform is needed not only at the national level but also at the village level. Since 2014, Indonesia’s development focus has been directed towards villages, yet the performance of village-level bureaucracy is still considered weakMany villages have not been able to optimize their local potential due to a lack of collaboration and integration of communal values, such as gotong royong (mutual cooperation), within the village bureaucratic system. This study aims to formulate a model for measuring village-level bureaucratic reform based on gotong royong in East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) and Lebak Regency, Banten. The research emphasizes the importance of community participation in village bureaucratic collaboration, particularly in the Komodo District, West Manggarai Regency, which faces challenges in human resource empowerment and technological limitations. Despite having tourism potential, the villages in this area have not fully benefited from bureaucratic reform and village autonomy. In Lebak Regency, as of 2023, there were 78 underdeveloped villages where efforts toward bureaucratic reform was hindered by limited capacity of village officials and the low utilization of information technology. Moreover, some villages struggle with effectively managing village funds. This study employs a qualitative approach, enabling an in-depth exploration and development of a village-level bureaucratic reform model, particularly in villages classified as underdeveloped according to the Village Development Index. The findings suggest the implementation of a more collaborative bureaucratic reform, grounded in local wisdom, such as gotong royong in NTT and Lebak, to enhance village development effectiveness. Community empowerment and the integration of local wisdom into village governance are key factors in overcoming these challenges, aiming to improve village bureaucratic performance and maximize local potential.