Stakeholder engagement plays a crucial role in shaping effective policy implementation and performance. This significance is particularly evident in the formulation of policies aimed at addressing violence against women and children. However, the intricate interplay of conflicting interests and power imbalances among stakeholders in this context often impedes the development of viable policy alternatives rooted in problem-solving approaches. Consequently, this hindrance contributes to suboptimal policy performance in the critical area of combating violence.
In conducting an in-depth examination, this research employs a qualitative approach with a case study methodology, utilizing the stakeholder analysis method for data scrutiny. The study reveals a noteworthy dominance of dependent stakeholders in the policy formulation process, characterized by an exclusive emphasis on power and legitimacy attributes. Strikingly, attributes of urgency are conspicuously absent, manifesting in a lack of prompt response to the rising incidents of violence and a notable dearth of understanding among stakeholders regarding the complexities of the issue. This finding suggests a critical gap in the stakeholders’ ability to address urgent concerns effectively.
The study’s conclusion underscores the limited influence stakeholders exert throughout the policy process. Their involvement is primarily confined to public hearings, with the actual drafting and discussions of policies entrusted to a select group of policy elites, notably Commission VI of the Aceh Legislative Council, an expert team, and the Aceh Women’s Empowerment and Child Protection Unit. This dynamic indicates that stakeholder engagement, rather than fostering comprehensive involvement, primarily serves as a means to confer legitimacy on policy decisions. In contributing to the scholarly discourse, this research enhances our understanding of stakeholder dynamics in policy formulation contexts, shedding light on the identification and role of the most influential stakeholders for the optimization of both policy formulation and performance. To read the full discussion of this issue, you can visit the following link: click here.
