Empowering Marginalized Groups: Unveiling the Benefits of Community Integration in Public Services Decision-Making

Authors

  • Jonathan Jacob Paul Latupeirissa Department of Public Administration, Universitas Pendidikan Nasional, Denpasar, Indonesia
  • I Wayan Tu Adi Department of Public Administration, Universitas Pendidikan Nasional, Denpasar, Indonesia
  • Evelyn B. Valencia Philippine School of Social Work, Philippine Women's University, City of Manila, Philippines

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18196/jgpp.v12i2.22640

Keywords:

Decision making, Participation, Public services

Abstract

This research highlights the critical relationship between public participation in decision-making and the enhanced efficiency of public service delivery, particularly for marginalized communities. Through a systematic review of international literature sourced from the Scopus database, the study examines how inclusive governance practices strengthen the engagement of underrepresented groups within government institutions. The findings emphasize the vital role of stakeholder participation in shaping effective, responsive, and inclusive public policies. The analysis reveals that inclusive decision-making not only improves the quality and accessibility of public services but also promotes more equitable and accountable governance. This research contributes to the broader discourse on participatory governance by offering a comprehensive analysis of community engagement dynamics and demonstrating how targeted interventions can help address structural inequalities in public administration. The novelty of this study lies in its emphasis on the transformative potential of inclusive policymaking, particularly in amplifying the voices and lived experiences of marginalized groups. By integrating these perspectives into policy development, governments can more effectively meet the diverse needs of their populations. Moving forward, the study advocates for identifying and implementing strategic mechanisms to increase the participation of marginalized communities in institutional decision-making, thereby advancing a more just and equitable society.

References

Abrams, J. A., Tabaac, A. R., Jung, S., & Else‐Quest, N. M. (2020). Considerations for employing intersectionality in qualitative health research. In Social Science & Medicine (Vol. 258, p. 113138). Elsevier BV. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2020.113138

Aguayo‐Romero, R. A. (2020). (Re)centering Black Feminism Into Intersectionality Research. American Journal of Public Health, 111(1), 101–103. https://doi.org/10.2105/ajph.2020.306005

Arthur, M., Saha, R., & Kapilashrami, A. (2023). Community participation and stakeholder engagement in determining health service coverage: A systematic review and framework synthesis to assess effectiveness. Journal of Global Health, 13, 1–15. https://doi.org/10.7189/JOGH.13.04034

Baumann, A. A., Shelton, R. C., Kumanyika, S., & Haire‐Joshu, D. (2023). Advancing healthcare equity through dissemination and implementation science. Health Services Research, 58, 327–344. https://doi.org/10.1111/1475-6773.14175

Bell, K., & Reed, M. S. (2021). The tree of participation: a new model for inclusive decision-making. Community Development Journal. https://doi.org/10.1093/cdj/bsab018

Calancie, L., Batdorf-Barnes, A., Verbiest, S., White, N., Lich, K. H., Corbie, G., Mullenix, A., & Cilenti, D. (2022). Practical Approaches for Promoting Health Equity in Communities. Maternal and Child Health Journal, 26, 82–87. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10995-022-03456-9

Cartenì, A., D’Acierno, L., & Gallo, M. (2020). A rational decision-making process with public engagement for designing public transport services: A real case application in Italy. Sustainability (Switzerland), 12(16), 1–26. https://doi.org/10.3390/SU12166303

Chauveron, L. M., Samtani, S., Groner, M. G., Urban, J. B., & Linver, M. R. (2021). Including Diverse Stakeholder Voices in Youth Character Program Evaluation. American Journal of Evaluation, 42(2), 221–236. https://doi.org/10.1177/1098214020917218

Cornfield, D. B., Herbolsheimer, C., & Bastian, S. (2023). In Pursuit of Cultural Equity: DEI Grantmaking Practices of U.S. Local Arts Agencies in Community Context. American Behavioral Scientist, 1–18. https://doi.org/10.1177/00027642231177902

Dahal, K. (2020). Civil Society’s Role in Operating and Managing Good Governance in Nepal. Journal of Political Science, 20, 99–123. https://doi.org/10.3126/jps.v20i0.31797

Dery, F., Bisung, E., Dickin, S., & Atengdem, J. (2021). ‘They will listen to women who speak, but it ends there’: examining empowerment in the context of water and sanitation interventions in Ghana. H2Open Journal, 4(1), 231–243. https://doi.org/10.2166/h2oj.2021.100

Dewi, G. D. P. (2021). Women’s empowerment for socioeconomic sustainable development in Singapore. IOP Conference Series Earth and Environmental Science, 729(1), 12098. https://doi.org/10.1088/1755-1315/729/1/012098

Doran, D., & O’higgins, T. (2020). Applications of a novel method of ecosystem services assessment into local policy making in the river blackwater Estuary, Ireland. Sustainability (Switzerland), 12(21), 1–16. https://doi.org/10.3390/su12219047

El-Galaly, T. C., Gaidzik, V. I., Gaman, M. A., Antic, D., Okosun, J., Copland, M., Sexl, V., Fielding, A. K., Doeswijk, R., Parker, H., Dreyling, M., Döhner, K., Almeida, A. M., Macintyre, E., Gribben, J. G., & Grønbæk, K. (2023). A Lack of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Clinical Research Has Direct Impact on Patient Care. HemaSphere, 7(3), E842. https://doi.org/10.1097/HS9.0000000000000842

Falisse, J. B., & Ntakarutimana, L. (2020). When information is not power: Community-elected health facility committees and health facility performance indicators. Social Science and Medicine, 265(August). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2020.113331

Fried, H. S., Hamilton, M., & Berardo, R. (2022). Closing integrative gaps in complex environmental governance systems. Ecology and Society, 27(1). https://doi.org/10.5751/ES-12996-270115

Gadson, D. N. (2020). Advancing Equity in Public Administration: Prioritizing Equality of Outcomes in the COVID‐19 Crisis. Risk Hazards & Crisis in Public Policy, 11(4), 449–457. https://doi.org/10.1002/rhc3.12206

Gallegos, D., Durham, J., Rutter, C., & McKechnie, R. (2023). Working towards the Active Participation of Underrepresented Populations in Research: A Scoping Review and Thematic Synthesis. In Health & Social Care in the Community (Vol. 2023, pp. 1–26). Wiley. https://doi.org/10.1155/2023/1312525

Guy, M. E., & Williams, B. N. (2023). A Journal Dedicated to Social Equity and Public Administration. Journal of Social Equity and Public Administration, 1(1), 13–18. https://doi.org/10.24926/jsepa.v1i1.4824

Gyamfi, J., & Peprah, E. (2023). Scaling-up Evidence-based Interventions for Communities of Color With Marked Health Disparities: Lessons Learned From COVID-19 Can Be Applied to Reduce Morbidity and Mortality and Achieve Health Equity. Medical Care, 61(7), 417–420. https://doi.org/10.1097/MLR.0000000000001872

Haarmans, M., Nazroo, J., Kapadia, D., Maxwell, C., Osahan, S., Edant, J., Grant‐Rowles, J., Motala, Z., & Rhodes, J. (2022). The practice of participatory action research: Complicity, power and prestige in dialogue with the ‘racialised mad.’ Sociology of Health & Illness, 44, 106–123. https://doi.org/10.1111/1467-9566.13517

Haesevoets, T., Roets, A., Van Severen, R., Dierckx, K., & Verschuere, B. (2023). The public’s preferred level of involvement in local policy-making. Scientific Reports, 13(1), 1–17. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-34282-w

Hong, S. G., & Lee, D. H. (2023). Development of a citizen participation public service innovation model based on smart governance. Service Business, 17(3), 669–694. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11628-023-00536-w

Iqbal, T., Shahzad, M. A., Nuez, M. J. A., & Martínez, J. R. (2022). Importance of environmental policy on firm performance for the textile industry: A contextual study of Pakistan. Frontiers in Psychology, 13. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.1008890

Ivanov, B. (2024). Intersectionality of Gender, Race, Class, Sexuality, Disability and Other Social Identities in Shaping the Experiences and Opportunities of Marginalized Groups in Ukraine. International Journal of Gender Studies, 9(1), 61–74. https://doi.org/10.47604/ijgs.2357

Liu, L., Perlaviciute, G., & Squintani, L. (2022). Opposing out loud versus supporting in silence: who wants to participate in decision-making about energy projects? Environmental Research Letters, 17(11). https://doi.org/10.1088/1748-9326/ac9f24

Liu, Z., de Jong, M., Li, F., Brand, N., Hertogh, M., & Dong, L. (2020). Towards Developing a New Model for Inclusive Cities in China—The Case of Xiong’an New Area. Sustainability, 12(15), 6195. https://doi.org/10.3390/su12156195

Liu, Z., Jong, M. de, Li, F., Brand, N., Hertogh, M., & Dong, L. (2020). Towards developing a new model for inclusive cities in China-The case of Xiong’an New Area. Sustainability (Switzerland), 12(15). https://doi.org/10.3390/su12156195

Madajewicz, M., Tompsett, A., & Habib, M. A. (2021). How does delegating decisions to communities affect the provision and use of a public service? Evidence from a field experiment in Bangladesh. Journal of Development Economics, 150(October 2020), 102609. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jdeveco.2020.102609

Mahajan, S., Hausladen, C. I., Sánchez–Vaquerizo, J. A., Korecki, M., & Helbing, D. (2022). Participatory resilience: Surviving, recovering and improving together. Sustainable Cities and Society, 83, 103942. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scs.2022.103942

Malta, M. (2023). The Concept of Strategy in Community Empowerment: A Literature Review. In INFLUENCE International Journal of Science Review (Vol. 5, Issue 3, pp. 24–34). https://doi.org/10.54783/influencejournal.v5i3.179

Manoharan, A., Melitski, J., & Holzer, M. (2022). Digital Governance: An Assessment of Performance and Best Practices. Public Organization Review, 23(1), 265–283. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11115-021-00584-8

Marshall, A. I., Kantamaturapoj, K., Kiewnin, K., Chotchoungchatchai, S., Patcharanarumol, W., & Tangcharoensathien, V. (2021). Participatory and responsive governance in universal health coverage: an analysis of legislative provisions in Thailand. BMJ Global Health, 6(2). https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjgh-2020-004117

McNeish, R., Rigg, K. K., Tran, Q., & Hodges, S. (2019). Community-based behavioral health interventions: Developing strong community partnerships. Evaluation and Program Planning, 73, 111–115. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.evalprogplan.2018.12.005

Minkman, M. M. N. (2023). The Time is Now, but Mind the Gaps: Communities – Governance – Implementation. International Journal of Integrated Care, 23(2), 1–4. https://doi.org/10.5334/ijic.7687

Mir, G., Durrani, N., Julian, R., Kimei, Y., Mashreky, S. R., & Duong, D. T. T. (2024). Social Inclusion and Sustainable Development: Findings from Seven African and Asian Contexts. Sustainability, 16(11), 4859. https://doi.org/10.3390/su16114859

Molina Rodríguez-Navas, P., Medranda Morales, N., & Muñoz Lalinde, J. (2021). Transparency for participation through the communication approach. ISPRS International Journal of Geo-Information, 10(9). https://doi.org/10.3390/ijgi10090586

Mutambik, I., Lee, J., Almuqrin, A., & Zhang, Z. (2023). Transitioning to Smart Cities in Gulf Cooperation Council Countries: The Role of Leadership and Organisational Culture. Sustainability, 15(13), 10490. https://doi.org/10.3390/su151310490

Nederhand, J., & Edelenbos, J. (2023). Legitimate public participation: A Q methodology on the views of politicians. Public Administration Review, 83(3), 522–536. https://doi.org/10.1111/puar.13556

Niederberger, E., & Glanville-Wallis, T. (2019). Community engagement in WASH emergencies: Understanding barriers and enablers based on action research from Bangladesh and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Water (Switzerland), 11(4). https://doi.org/10.3390/w11040862

Nouri, A., Khadem, S., Mutule, A., Papadimitriou, C., Stanev, R., Cabiati, M., Keane, A., & Carroll, P. (2022). Identification of Gaps and Barriers in Regulations, Standards, and Network Codes to Energy Citizen Participation in the Energy Transition. Energies, 15(3), 1–29. https://doi.org/10.3390/en15030856

Ortega, A. R. C., & Zamora, D. T. (2023). Balance on social inclusion and environmental justice at the end of the 30 years of the drinking water service concession in the city of Aguascalientes, Mexico. Frontiers in Sustainable Cities, 5. https://doi.org/10.3389/frsc.2023.1177179

Rendon, C., Osman, K. K., & Faust, K. M. (2021). Path towards community resilience: Examining stakeholders’ coordination at the intersection of the built, natural, and social systems. Sustainable Cities and Society, 68(February), 102774. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scs.2021.102774

Sarkis-Onofre, R., Catalá-López, F., Aromataris, E., & Lockwood, C. (2021). How to properly use the PRISMA Statement. Systematic Reviews, 10(1), 13–15. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13643-021-01671-z

Sengstock, B. (2024). Diversity, equity and inclusion in the workplace. Journal of Paramedic Practice, 16(1), 16–17. https://doi.org/10.12968/jpar.2024.16.1.16

Setianto, M. A. S., & Gamal, A. (2021). Spatial justice in the distribution of public services. IOP Conference Series Earth and Environmental Science, 673(1), 12024. https://doi.org/10.1088/1755-1315/673/1/012024

Shafieisabet, N., & Haratifard, S. (2020). The empowerment of local tourism stakeholders and their perceived environmental effects for participation in sustainable development of tourism. Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Management, 45, 486–498. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhtm.2020.10.007

Sparkes, S., Rivera, P. A. C., Jang, H., Marten, R., Rajan, D., Robb, A., & Shroff, Z. C. (2022). Normalizing the political economy of improving health. Bulletin of the World Health Organization, 100(4), 276–280. https://doi.org/10.2471/blt.21.286629

Tinner, L., Holman, D., Ejegi‐Memeh, S., & Laverty, A. A. (2023). Use of Intersectionality Theory in Interventional Health Research in High-Income Countries: A Scoping Review. In International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (Vol. 20, Issue 14, p. 6370). Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20146370

Urcuqui-Bustamante, A. M., Selfa, T. L., Hirsch, P., & Ashcraft, C. M. (2021). Uncovering stakeholder participation in payment for hydrological services (PHS) program decision making in Mexico and Colombia. Sustainability (Switzerland), 13(15), 1–26. https://doi.org/10.3390/su13158562

van de Wetering, S. (2023). Facilitating citizen participation in marginalised neighbourhoods: selective empowerment in between vulnerability and active citizenship. Local Government Studies, 50(3), 498–520. https://doi.org/10.1080/03003930.2023.2218801

Wyatt, R., Tucker, L., Mate, K. S., Cerise, F., Fernández, A., Jain, S., Bau, I., & Wolfson, D. (2023). A matter of trust: Commitment to act for health equity. Healthcare, 11(1), 100675. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hjdsi.2023.100675

Zhang, Y., Liang, S., Feng, Y., Wang, Q., Sun, F., Chen, S., Yang, Y., He, X., Zhu, H., & Pan, H. (2022). Automation of literature screening using machine learning in medical evidence synthesis: a diagnostic test accuracy systematic review protocol. Systematic Reviews, 11(1), 5–11. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13643-021-01881-5

Downloads

Published

2025-06-14

How to Cite

Latupeirissa, J. J. P., Tu Adi, I. W., & B. Valencia, E. (2025). Empowering Marginalized Groups: Unveiling the Benefits of Community Integration in Public Services Decision-Making. Journal of Governance and Public Policy, 12(2), 191–205. https://doi.org/10.18196/jgpp.v12i2.22640

Issue

Section

Articles