Decentralization and public service performance in traditional village governance of Central Maluku, Indonesia

Abstract

Purpose: to examine the impact of decentralization policies on public service effectiveness, governance quality, and community participation in Tulehu village, Central Maluku regency.

Method: this study employs a qualitative descriptive approach. Data were collected through interviews, observations, and documentation, and then analyzed using an interactive model of data reduction, data display, and conclusion drawing to examine the implementation of decentralization and its impact on public service effectiveness in Tulehu village.

Findings: decentralization in Tulehu village has improved governance and community participation, particularly through musrenbang and Saniri institutions. However, public service effectiveness remains limited due to restricted village authority and dependence on higher-level government. Human resource capacity and local institutional support play a key role in enhancing administrative performance and transparency.

Implications: effective decentralization requires not only authority delegation but also strong human resource capacity, institutional strengthening, and active community participation to improve public service delivery and local governance performance.

Originality: focus on the implementation of decentralization in Tulehu village by integrating perspectives of local customary governance (Saniri negeri) and public administration, particularly in analyzing how institutional and social factors jointly influence public service performance in an island-based setting.