Adaptive Governance and Agile Leadership in Street-Level Bureaucracy: Subsidy Implementation Effectiveness

This study aims to examine the implementation of social subsidy policies in Sidoarjo Regency by analyzing the interaction between governance capacity, collaborative governance, and agility, with a particular focus on the role of street-level bureaucrats and agile leadership. The research employs a qualitative descriptive approach, conducted in Waru sub-district, covering Tambaksawah, Tambakrejo, and Tropodo villages. Informants include subsidy recipients, households entitled to but not receiving subsidies (12 respondents), local NGOs (3), street-level bureaucrats (6), and journalists (2). Data were collected through semi-structured in-depth interviews, observation, and document analysis, and triangulated for validity. Analysis follows the interactive qualitative model proposed by Creswell and Poth, including data organization, coding, thematic development, and interpretive analysis. Findings indicate that subsidy implementation faces challenges in accurate targeting, distribution quality of non-cash transfers, and adaptive utilization of cash subsidies by households. Street-level bureaucrats’ discretion and agile leadership emerge as critical factors bridging policy design and practical implementation, influencing public perception of government presence. The study contributes to the development of an adaptive governance model in public administration, highlighting the dual vulnerability of cash and non-cash subsidies and the necessity of contextualized, flexible, and responsive governance strategies.