<![CDATA[This study examines how Local Village Facilitators (Pendamping Lokal Desa [PLDs]) mediate tensions between compliance with top-down policies and bottom-up participation in village development in Serang Regency, Banten, Indonesia. It specifically seeks to explain frontline mediation mechanisms that the village governance literature has not adequately addressed. The study employs a qualitative approach with a case study design. It draws on in-depth interviews with PLDs, Professional Facilitators (Tenaga Pendamping Profesional [TPPs]), and village government officials and members of the Village Consultative Body (Badan Permusyawaratan Desa [BPD]) and analyzes the data thematically. The findings show that village facilitation operates within a hybrid governance configuration. PLDs maintain formal compliance while adapting policy implementation to local conditions; however, substantive responsiveness weakens when administrative burdens increase, facilitation capacity remains limited, and patronage strengthens elite bargaining power within participatory forums. Under high-risk conditions, PLDs use documentation, hierarchical consultation, compromise, and administratively safe measures as risk-mitigation strategies. In contrast, stronger institutional support, greater room for contextual adaptation, cooperative village governments, active communities, and functional BPDs increase the likelihood of substantive participation. These findings highlight the need to simplify regulations, strengthen PLDs’ mediation capacity, and improve their institutional protection. The study contributes to the literature by developing the concept of frontline mediation to explain how regulation, discretion, patronage, and participation interact within village governance.]]>
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