Decentralization and poverty reduction in Indonesia: the case of East Nusa Tenggara (NTT)

Abstract

Decentralization in Indonesia is principally implemented via two laws. Law 32/2004 on Regional Autonomy (original Law 22/1999) restructures the organizational arrangements of the regional government system, with a view to: (1) giving local governments at district and municipal level, greater representation, autonomy and resources; (2) giving emphasis to local knowledge and preferences about development; and (3) providing opportunities for local people to participate in decision making. The companion Law 33/2004 on Fiscal Balance between central and regional governments (original Law 25/1999) focuses on the intergovernmental fiscal system, intending to promote a more equitable distribution of resources, to increase responsiveness and fiscal capacity of local governments at district and municipal level, and to improve social welfare. By their stated objectives, these two laws depict the motives of Indonesia’s ‘Reformasi’ (reform) in 1999, in order to reform a long lasting centralized autocratic regime into a public-participatory democratic system. The outcome of these two key laws on decentralization, and more specifically on the alleviation of poverty, cannot be separated from two features. First, the role of central government transfers to sub-national levels to support the process of decentralization. And second, the commitment of local governments to allocate the resources for developmental purposes and poverty reduction. Although the latter plays a vital role in regards to empowering the poor, the former is equally important as a source of finance to support local governments that are lacking financial competency to perform regional autonomy.