Does Rural Development Enable Community Empowerment? Evidence from Village Fund in Indonesia

Abstract

This research examines the key determinants of community empowerment within human resource management (HRM) frameworks, with a specific focus on determinants such as Village Officer Responsiveness (VORI) and Community Participation (CP). From the perspective of human resource management in the public sector, the role of VORI in influencing CP is very important to optimize public service delivery and encourage community involvement. Likewise, the dynamics of CP will highlight effective strategies for increasing local governance effectiveness and community empowerment. The research applied a survey method for data collection and uses quantitative descriptive analysis. The research sample consisted of 75 from 301 villages in Banyumas Regency, which were selected through a multistage random sampling approach to ensure proportional representation. Through a quantitative analysis of extensive survey data, this study evaluates the impact of VORI, CP, and additional factors including Village Officer Quality (VOQ) and Village Origin Revenue (VORP) on community empowerment outcomes. The findings of this study indicate that VORI and CP emerge as the most significant drivers of community empowerment, surpassing the influence of VOQ and VORP. These findings underscore the indispensable role played by responsive local officers and engaged communities in fostering empowerment under the village fund scheme. In conclusion, the study emphasizes the critical importance of managing responsive village officers and promoting active community participation as foundational elements for empowerment programs. It suggests that policymakers prioritize these aspects and guide resource allocation decisions, in line with HRM principles. This approach not only increases (VORI) and encourages (CP), but also provides input for strategic HRM interventions aimed at improving the effectiveness of public service outcomes.