Strengthening Village Governance through Community-Based Monitoring Systems in Eastern Indonesia

Abstract

This study explores the implementation of a community-based monitoring system to strengthen participatory village governance in North Maluku. The initiative involved local residents, village officials, and NGOs in developing monitoring indicators, conducting public forums, and using simple digital tools for data reporting. The findings indicate improved transparency in budget allocation, higher community participation in development planning, and increased accountability of village leaders. Despite challenges in digital literacy, the initiative showed that bottom-up monitoring mechanisms can build civic capacity and improve governance outcomes in rural contexts.