COMMUNITY EMPOWERMENT THROUGH INTER-SECTORAL ACTION, A CASE STUDY OF GERBANGMAS IN LUMAJANG DISTRICT

The objective of this case study was to learn the policyprocess of the Gerbangmas movement in Lumajang districtas an innovation within decentralized system. Using qualitativeapproach, data was collected by in-depth interview of keyinformants and review of documents, then analyzedthematically. The study has revealed that the policy change ofGerbangmas initiative is not a radical but incremental processwhich takes around five years period. It started from“conventional Posyandus” to be “Balai Posyandu Mandiri”,then revived by the Bupati into Gerbangmas movement. Healthsector has successfully advocated the Bupati to create acommon vehicle for all sectors. The study has identified thatthe essences of Gerbangmas movement were (i) neutralvehicle, (ii) shared goals, (iii) all sectors could be passengers,(iv) strong power of the referee, (v) government financialstimulants, (vi) self management by community, and (vii) neutralcadres as the implementer (PKK). Gerbangmas movementhas encouraged multi sectors to set programs for communityempowerment. The study recommended that in conductingcommunity empowerment for addressing social determinantsof health, it is of importance to set a neutral vehicle that canaccommodate multi sectors’ interests.Keywords: community empowerment, Posyandu,Gerbangmas, inter-sectoral action, social determinants ofhealt