Situbondo Regent Regulation No. 56 of 2025: Empowering Rural Information Sovereignty through KIM

The enactment of Situbondo Regent Regulation No. 56 of 2025 represents a progressive leap by the Situbondo Regency Government in strengthening information sovereignty at the grassroots level. Amidst the massive wave of digitalization in 2026, the existence of the Community Information Group (Komunitas Informasi Masyarakat) or KIM has become vital as a balancer of information and a driver of literacy in villages. This Regent Regulation serves as a formal guideline governing the management of KIM to make it more independent, creative, and capable of delivering a real impact on village community empowerment. KIM is no longer seen as a passive dissemination channel; rather, it is a strategic partner for the government in building a healthy and productive two-way communication ecosystem.

Philosophically, the issuance of Situbondo Regent Regulation No. 56 of 2025 is based on the awareness that information is a public asset that must be managed wisely to encourage active democratic participation. Through this regulation, the Situbondo Regency Government, via the Communication and Informatics Office (Kominfo), aims to ensure that every village has agents of change capable of sorting, processing, and spreading information responsibly. In the current post-truth era, KIM bears the moral responsibility to become a fortress against the spread of hoaxes while serving as a bridge for public policy so that it reaches citizens in a more grounded and easily understandable language.

This article provides a deep dive into every chapter and article of this latest regulation—from the institutional formation mechanism and detailed duties and functions to the strictly professional partnership procedures now in place. For village officials, community managers, and village social media activists, understanding the substance of Situbondo Regent Regulation No. 56 of 2025 is the first step toward realizing an “Information Literate Village” that is economically and socially independent. Let us examine how this regulation provides creative space for village communities to become credible information producers with high bargaining power in regional development.

Strategic Definition and the Core Objectives of KIM

According to Chapter I of Situbondo Regent Regulation No. 56 of 2025, the term Community Information Group is defined as a group of people who manage and disseminate information independently and creatively. The words “independent” and “creative” here emphasize that KIM is not a rigid extension of the bureaucracy but an organic initiative of citizens to help their fellow residents access beneficial information. Information management, in this context, encompasses all efforts from data searching and narrative processing to the use of various media platforms (both traditional and digital) for economic and social empowerment.

The primary objective of these governance guidelines is to build an integrated information dissemination network throughout the Situbondo Regency. The regional government recognizes that the reach of bureaucracy has its limits, hence the need for agents at the village level to help expand the coverage of development information. Furthermore, this regulation aims to encourage democratic participation by providing a space for dialogue between the community and the government. With accurate information, the community can provide more constructive input on public policies, leading to better transparency and accountability at the regional level.

Improving public literacy is also a major goal of Situbondo Regent Regulation No. 56 of 2025. Literacy here is not just the ability to read, but the critical capacity to use information to improve the quality of life. KIM is expected to educate the public on how to verify health information, identify market opportunities for village MSMEs, and understand the procedures for accessing public services. With strong literacy, information is no longer just consumed; it becomes a tool for villagers to solve their daily problems intelligently.

“In 2026, information is the new currency. KIM is the exchange house that ensures every citizen gets the true value of every data point circulated in their village.”

KIM Institutionalization: Organizational Structure and Position in the Village

In terms of institutionalization, Situbondo Regent Regulation No. 56 of 2025 provides clarity regarding the position and organizational structure of KIM to ensure strong legitimacy. Article 3 stipulates that KIM is formed at the Village or Urban-Village (Kelurahan) level through a community deliberation mechanism. Official recognition of the group’s existence is formalized through the issuance of a Village Head or Urban-Village Head Decree. This is crucial to provide a legal umbrella for KIM when they wish to partner with third parties or access operational support from village funds.

The KIM Secretariat is located in the respective village or urban-village area, typically integrated with the village hall to facilitate coordination. To ensure the organization runs effectively, the regulation sets a minimum management structure consisting of a Chairperson, Secretary, and Treasurer. However, what sets this rule apart is the mandatory inclusion of four technical fields reflecting the modern functions of an information institution. The four fields are:

• Information Service Field: Responsible for curating and providing data requested by the public.
• Institutional Field: Focuses on internal organization and legal compliance.
• Community Development Field: Tasked with engaging various community elements like youth groups, farmers, and MSMEs.
• Communication and Information Field: Manages social media channels, websites, and digital content production.

This detailed structure aims to prevent KIM from becoming a “name-only organization” that is only active during ceremonies. With a dedicated community development field, for example, KIM is required to actively embrace diverse community elements. Meanwhile, the communication and information field is fully responsible for managing social media channels or the KIM website, ensuring regional development messages are delivered routinely and creatively according to the community’s media consumption trends in 2026.

Duties and Functions: Serving as the Community’s Media Network

Article 4 of Situbondo Regent Regulation No. 56 of 2025 details the core duties of KIM as empowerment agents. The first duty is to create an information-active society, where citizens are encouraged to be proactive in seeking the data they need. Second, KIM is tasked with empowering its members through directed discussions to select information beneficial for economic improvement. Finally, KIM functions as a communication media network between the community and the government. In this position, KIM acts as a curator that simplifies technical government jargon into language understood by the people, while simultaneously conveying the people’s aspirations back to the government.

The broad functions of KIM also cover educational and economic aspects. As an information vehicle, KIM must provide accurate data access to the public. As a dialogue partner, KIM serves as a venue for the government to conduct public testing of policies. Additionally, KIM serves as a tool for improving media literacy among residents to minimize the negative impacts of digital technology. Interestingly, the regulation acknowledges that KIM is an institution with economic value. This means KIM is permitted to develop business units related to information management, such as content creation services or promotion of superior village products, as long as it supports the organization’s independence.

With such extensive functions, a KIM under Situbondo Regent Regulation No. 56 of 2025 is no longer just about “posting village activities.” They are independent entities that help villagers see the opportunities behind a piece of information. For instance, when there is information about grant aid or export training, the KIM’s job is to dissect that information and assist the relevant community groups in accessing it. This is what true information empowerment means—transforming data into power for the village community.

Electronic Mapping and Profiling System for KIM

To ensure targeted development, the Communication and Informatics Office performs an electronic mapping system for KIM as regulated in Article 5. This mapping process involves an in-depth profiling data collection of all KIMs that have obtained a Village Head Decree. The data collected includes the KIM type, focus area of activities, number of active members, and the media platforms used. Digitalizing this data allows the regional government to view the information communication landscape in each region in real-time.

During this mapping process, the Kominfo Office also identifies relevant public issues in each village area. This aims to ensure that the guidance provided aligns with the context of the problems currently faced by the local community. Based on the mapping results, KIMs will be grouped according to their strength and influence. This matrix approach divides KIM into several quadrants; KIMs with high strength and high interest will be made primary partners in major development campaigns, while beginner-level KIMs will receive priority technical guidance and capacity building.

This mapping also serves to determine the KIM Type according to the technical guidelines’ attachment. Type A focuses on broad development information dissemination, while Type B is more directed toward community economic empowerment through information. With this separation, the allocation of development resources from the regency can be more efficient and effective. The government no longer provides a “one size fits all” training, but rather tailors training needs to the characteristics and target audiences of each information community.

Strategic Partnerships: Legality and Administrative Requirements

Partnerships between the Situbondo Regency Government and KIM are regulated in great detail in Chapter V. Article 6 explains that these partnerships include HR capacity building through village journalism training, technical guidance on digital media management, and the organization of annual competitions as a form of appreciation for the best KIM. The government also provides shared information materials that can be repackaged by KIM according to their respective creativity to make them more attractive to their village constituents.

However, to ensure quality and neutrality, Article 7 sets strict requirements for partnership. Legally, KIM must have a Village Head Decree and obtain a Community Identification Number (NIK) from the Kominfo Office. Administratively, KIM managers are prohibited from being Civil Servants (ASN) to avoid conflicts of interest. A crucial point here is the prohibition of KIM managers from being involved in criminal activities and the obligation to remain unaffiliated with any political party or Non-Governmental Organization (NGO). This rule aims to preserve the purity of KIM as an objective public information institution free from practical political agendas.

The principles of partnership in Situbondo Regent Regulation No. 56 of 2025 are based on the principles of common vision, amplification (domino effect), synergy, and transparency oriented toward measurable results. The regional government can terminate the partnership at any time if violations are found, such as expired decrees without renewal, managers no longer meeting the requirements of Article 7, or if the KIM’s reputation declines due to spreading inaccurate or disturbing information. This firmness is necessary to maintain the dignity of KIM as a trusted information reference at the village level.

Monitoring, Evaluation, and Success Indicators

Chapter VI of this regulation mandates the Kominfo Office to conduct routine monitoring and evaluation (monev) of KIM activities. Monev targets not only administrative aspects but also the quality and impact of the information dissemination activities performed. The Office will monitor the extent to which KIM is active in producing content, the community’s interaction with that content, and the extent to which the disseminated information provides real benefits to citizens.

According to the technical guidelines, KIM’s success is measured through three modern indicators:

1. Output: Measured by the number of social media followers or the number of citizens attending information discussions.
2. Outtakes: Public response or interaction with the message delivered (such as shares or comments).
3. Outcome: Changes in attitude, awareness, or behavior of the audience after receiving the information. For example, increased citizen participation in a health program or an increase in village MSME sales after being promoted by KIM.

This result-based evaluation system encourages KIM managers to work more creatively rather than just fulfilling a posting obligation. With clear indicators, KIM can perform self-evaluations to see which communication strategy is most effective for their community. The results of this annual monev will typically form the basis for the regency government in presenting awards or the “KIM Award,” which is a source of pride for information activists at the village level.

Conclusion

Overall, Situbondo Regent Regulation No. 56 of 2025 is not just an administrative document; it is a manifestation of the region’s commitment to creating an inclusive and empowering information ecosystem. With a clear institutional structure, an accurate digital mapping mechanism, and partnership requirements that uphold neutrality, KIM is expected to become the engine of information literacy in every village within the Situbondo Regency.

The presence of this regulation provides a guarantee of continuous protection and guidance for citizens who wish to contribute to the world of information. Through professional governance, information truly becomes a tool for villagers to improve welfare, strengthen solidarity, and embrace a digital future with full integrity. Let us fully support KIM operations in villages so that Situbondo not only advances physically but also excels in managing information for the sovereignty of its people.

2026 Technical Provision Summary Table

The dynamics of community information services in 2026 require village officials and activists to remain adaptive to digital application developments while maintaining high journalistic integrity.

Visit the Village Regulations page for official access.