Strengthening Multi-level Governance for Drought Emergency Response under Climate Change in Bekasi Regency, Indonesia

Abstract

Multi-level governance (MLG) explains how authority and coordination are distributed vertically across government tiers and horizontally across sectors and among non-state actors. In drought emergencies, which are typically slow-onset and increasingly shaped by climate change, such coordination is critical. Bekasi Regency experienced severe water scarcity during the 2023 dry season, affecting more than 40 villages by October 2023. This study examines how MLG operates in Bekasi Regency’s drought emergency response and develops a framework to strengthen MLG in the context of climate change. Using a qualitative case study design, data were collected through semi-structured interviews with nine key informants across national, provincial, and local institutions and non-governmental actors, complemented by a document review. The analysis applied thematic analysis. This study proposes an MLG strengthening framework that links contingency planning, operational plans, and emergency status decrees, thereby clarifying and making the vertical–horizontal lines of authority more consistent and measurable. The framework emphasizes an integrated command mechanism connected to climate indicators  and  early  warning  systems,  an  integrated  multilevel  emergency  financing scheme, strengthened actor capacity, and an information system combining climate and spatial data. Non-governmental actors are positioned as co-governance partners, while cross-level monitoring and evaluation are institutionalized as learning mechanisms for SOP refinement, plan updating, and long-term adaptation.