Empowering Relationships and Connections in Waste Chain Management: A Study of Community-based Waste Management in Ponorogo Regency, Indonesia

The waste issue is a global challenge requiring effective and efficient management. It is important to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. Ponorogo Regency, one of the regions in East Java Province, Indonesia, still faces some problems in waste management, as indicated by the less optimum connection between actors and the weak relationship between stakeholders. This research aims (1) to describe and analyze connections in the waste management value chain in Ponorogo Regency and (2) to describe and analyze the empowering relationship in the waste management value chain in Ponorogo Regency. This study is descriptive research using a qualitative approach. Data was collected through interviews, observation, documentation, and Focus Group Discussion (FGD). The research results show that community-based management in Ponorogo Regency still faces some constraints in terms of connections and empowering relationships. Connections established between actors and stakeholders in waste management do not work well. Similarly, empowering relationships has not been implemented optimally yet. The application of Information and Communications Technologies (ICT) allows improving access to information so that connections and empowering relationships can be created better.