Local Crisis Governance in Rural Indonesia: Lessons from the COVID-19 Response in Mahakam Ulu Regency

Muhammad Noor (Prodi Administrasi Publik, Fakultas Ilmu Sosial Dan Ilmu Politik, Universitas Mulawarman, Indonesia)
Adam Idris (Prodi Administrasi Publik, Fakultas Ilmu Sosial Dan Ilmu Politik, Universitas Mulawarman, Indonesia)
Annisa Wahyuni Arsyad (Prodi Administrasi Publik, Fakultas Ilmu Sosial Dan Ilmu Politik, Universitas Mulawarman, Indonesia)
Gilang Wilmantara (Prodi Administrasi Publik, Fakultas Ilmu Sosial Dan Ilmu Politik, Universitas Mulawarman, Indonesia)

ARMADA : Jurnal Penelitian Multidisiplin
Vol. 4 No. 9 (2026): ARMADA : Jurnal Penelitian Multidisplin, September 2026

Community participation takes part in implementing policies to handle COVID-19. This study aims to describe and analyze the dimensions of community participation and the role of the local government in controlling the spread of COVID-19 based on Cohen and Uphoff's Perspective of community participation.  The research has taken place in Mahakam Ulu Regency, East Kalimantan Province, Indonesia. The data was collected based on the performance of the regional COVID-19 response policies and how the community engages in supporting policy implementation through various forms of participation in decision making, implementation, benefits, and evaluation. Data Collection was obtained qualitatively by observing, interviewing, and investigating sources. The primary data was obtained from 7 informants who represent this research.  The result showed that community participation is directive where the local government has powering up in implementing the COVID-19 policies. Besides the traditional commitments of indigenous people, local governments have full support and trust because the government placed the community as the center of the project and actively engaged in overcoming the outbreak.