Central Java

This article shows how the Indonesian new developmental state addresses gender equality and women’s empowerment in its effort to institutionalise a participatory approach in the state bureaucracy. It pays attention to the way the new developmental ideology has shaped participatory governance policy as an instrument of village development instead of deepening democracy and reworking the structure of traditional gender relations.

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought an unprecedented challenge for micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) globally, including in Indonesia. In response to the pandemic, the Government of Indonesia launched a program to provide working capital assistance for micro-entrepreneurs categorized as poor and who are vulnerable to being affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Many MSMEs in Indonesia are also on the brink of failure during the COVID-19 pandemic as revenue significantly decreased due to a significant drop in demand (Badan Pusat Statistik, 2020).