Collaborative Governance in the Municipal Solid Waste Sector : Understanding the Collaboration Process in the Jakarta Collaboration Forum

Municipal solid waste (MSW) management is a global concern due to urban population growth, particularly in developing countries. Collaboration among stakeholders in the MSW sector is vital for addressing the challenges associated with MSW management. However, initiating and operating collaborations in this domain are complex and have received limited attention in existing research. This study aims to understand collaboration in the MSW sector, specifically focusing on the factors influencing collaboration initiation and the collaboration process. The study utilizes the collaborative governance framework developed by Emerson et al. (2012) and conducts a case study on Jakarta's MSW sector, examining the Large-Scale Social Collaboration (LSSC) forum for waste management. The analysis highlights the significant influence of the political and policy landscape in creating an enabling environment for collaboration in Jakarta's MSW sector. Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) play a crucial role in initiating and nurturing the collaboration forum. The presence of discussion spaces for the discovery of shared interests among stakeholders contributes to building trust. However, challenges arise from the diverse range of participants in the forum, hindering the identification of joint action. Government endorsement and the institutionalization of collaboration through a government decree are essential for fostering collaboration. This study suggests further research on applying collaborative governance in various MSW collaboration settings and investigating the interconnections among the elements.