Collaborative Governance in Addressing Violence Against Women and Children: Evidence from Sintang, Indonesia

Violence against women and children (VAWC) remains a persistent barrier to achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDGs 5, 10, and 16. Despite global and national commitments, non-metropolitan regions in the Global South continue to face structural constraints in protection governance. This study examines the implementation of collaborative governance in addressing VAWC in Sintang Regency, West Kalimantan, Indonesia, where recorded cases increased from 42 in 2022 to 65 in 2023, diverging from the broader downward trend at the provincial level. Guided by the collaborative governance framework of Emerson et al. (2012), which emphasises principled engagement, shared motivation, and capacity for joint action, the study examines how collaborative governance is implemented and the extent to which it aligns with SDG Targets 5.2, 16.1, and 16.2. A qualitative descriptive design was employed, drawing on semi-structured interviews, observations, and document analysis involving twelve participants selected through purposive and snowball sampling across nine institutions, with appropriate ethical safeguards. The findings indicate that inter-institutional collaboration is functioning; however, shortages of psychologists and social workers, inadequate infrastructure, limited outreach, and geographical barriers constrain the effectiveness of protection efforts. The increase in recorded cases also appears to reflect, at least partly, improvements in reporting mechanisms. The study concludes that strengthening institutional capacity beyond procedural coordination is essential to developing more effective and sustainable governance for addressing VAWC, with broader implications for non-metropolitan settings in the Global South.