When does institutionalization mean NGOnization? Sustaining Climate Risk Governance in Secondary Cities

Global disaster risk governance frameworks as well as recent urban climate governance models often suggest countries and local governments to create multi-stakeholder platforms through which the process of institutionalizing risk reduction and adaptation actions can be catalyzed and accelerated. Using exploratory research design and longitudinal observation, this paper examines the process of ‘exit points’ in mainstreaming climate resilience and adaptation in Indonesia through experimental climate governance model recently promoted by Asian Cities Climate Change Resilience Network (ACCCRN) Project in Semarang City, Indonesia during 2009-2016. The findings suggest that the complex interplay of agencies with institutional uncertainties have pushed city stakeholders to opt for multipronged approach including a shift from multi-stakeholder platform towards NGOnization – a shifts of a formal and multi-stakeholder arrangements into informal modes of governance where NGO-like structure is viewed as a temporary institutional solution. The good news is despite delayed progress in formal institutions, it is observed that knowledge and technology transfer emerged as a long-term legacy of ACCCRN in Semarang City.