COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION IN LANDSLIDE DISASTER MITIGATION: EXAMINING IMPLEMENTATION AND BENEFIT DISTRIBUTION IN MAKALE SUBDISTRICT, TANA TORAJA REGENCY, INDONESIA

Abstract

This study examines community participation in landslide disaster mitigation in mountainous areas, focusing on two key dimensions: participation in implementation and participation in benefits. Using a qualitative case study approach, data were collected through in-depth interviews with seven purposively selected informants, including disaster management agency officials, village leaders, and community members residing in landslide-prone areas, supplemented by field observations and document analysis. The research applies Cohen and Uphoff's (1980) participation framework, specifically analyzing participation in implementation through resource contribution, administrative and coordination involvement, and program enrollment, as well as participation in benefits through material, social, and personal dimensions. Findings reveal that communities demonstrate high levels of resource mobilization rooted in indigenous mutual cooperation values, engaging actively in emergency response, infrastructure rehabilitation, and environmental maintenance activities. Administrative and coordination mechanisms function through tiered reporting systems utilizing both digital and conventional communication channels, though constrained by infrastructure limitations and predominantly reactive rather than proactive approaches. Program enrollment remains largely top-down, with limited formal mechanisms for bottom-up community-initiated proposals. Communities receive comprehensive material benefits including emergency aid and housing relocation, substantial social benefits manifested through strengthened cohesion and collective action capacity, and personal benefits encompassing basic knowledge and improved well-being, though technical capacity remains limited due to absence of practical training. The study identifies critical gaps between responsive-curative interventions and preventive-educational programs, underscoring the necessity for transitioning toward community-driven disaster risk reduction through institutionalized participatory mechanisms, hybrid communication systems, experiential capacity building, and supportive regulatory frameworks to build sustainable disaster resilience in vulnerable communities.