Collaborative-Diffusion Governance for Street-Connected Children: Evidence from Indonesia

Street-connected children remain marginalized in Indonesia’s cities. This study evaluates effectiveness beyond uptake, focusing on TRC Saribattang, a Pentahelix intervention uniting government, academia, business, civil society, and media in Makassar (2021–2023, including an 18-month pilot). We aim to assess whether the collaborative configuration enables durable protection and socio-economic reintegration. Using a phenomenological design, we conducted 12 semi-structured interviews with adult stakeholders, observed patrols and coordination meetings, and reviewed municipal documents. Data were triangulated and analyzed thematically, guided by Rogers’ diffusion-of-innovation attributes. Findings indicate that the 112 emergency hotline and joint patrols improved “relative advantage” and “observability,” contributing to a decline in street-connected children from 268 (2021) to 87 (2023). However, displacement to peripheral zones and the lack of livelihood support and integrated data systems weakened “compatibility” and heightened “complexity.” We propose a collaborative-diffusion framework combining economic support, digital case dashboards, and neighborhood co-design. While promising, the study is limited by its single-city scope and reliance on adult informants. Future phases should adopt child-safe, participatory methods to enhance inclusivity and empirical depth. Findings offer a transferable lens for collaborative governance and inform policy reforms in the Global South, thereby advancing both theory and practice.