PARTISIPASI MASYARAKAT DALAM PROSES PERENCANAAN PEMBANGUNAN PEKON SUKARAME KECAMATAN BALIK BUKIT KABUPATEN LAMPUNG BARAT

Community participation plays a crucial role in ensuring that village development programs align with the real needs of society. However, in many cases, community involvement in the village development planning forum (musrenbang) remains low, resulting in programs that are less responsive to local aspirations. This study aims to analyze the level and form of community participation in the development planning process in Pekon Sukarame, Balik Bukit Subdistrict, West Lampung Regency. Using a qualitative descriptive approach, data were collected through observation, in-depth interviews, and documentation involving villagers, village officials, and traditional leaders. The results reveal that community participation in development planning is still limited and tends to be formalistic. The main inhibiting factors include weak socialization and dissemination of information from the village government, low awareness and understanding of citizens, and the dominance of village officials in decision-making. Consequently, community aspirations are rarely accommodated at the planning stage and are mostly confined to the implementation phase. This condition undermines the principles of inclusiveness and good governance in village development. The study suggests the need for strengthening participatory education, expanding access to information, and providing more open dialogue forums to increase active community involvement. By enhancing these aspects, village development planning can become more inclusive, transparent, and sustainable.