National program for community empowerment in rural areas in Bekasi

Abstract

This paper aims to understand the implementation of PNPM-Rural, or Indonesia’s National Program for Community Empowerment in Rural Areas, with case studies in Babelan District and Karang Bahagia District, Bekasi Regency, West Java Province. PNPM-Rural was launched in 2007 as a National Program to eradicate poverty through community empowerment. The program is meant to help the community to improve community welfare and employment opportunities by providing infrastructure and microcredit to women. In the implementation of PNPM-Rural, local people elect their representatives to be the management team. They are assisted by external consultants acting as facilitators.