Evaluasi Penggunaan Dana Desa Dalam Upaya Pembangunan Desa di Kecamatan Pulau Merbau

This study aims to evaluate the extent to which Village Funds are used in developing villages in Pulau Merbau District has been budgeted and used in accordance with the priorities set in national policy. Data were obtained through observation, documentation, and interviews with village officials. The study was conducted in six developing villages using descriptive qualitative methods. The results show that Village Funds have made a significant contribution to village development, especially in meeting basic needs and developing infrastructure such as infrastructure, health facilities, and education. However, two of the four main priorities, namely developing local economic potential and sustainable utilization of natural resources, have not been optimally implemented. This indicates that the use of village funds in 2024 will be more focused on the basic sector. Although it has had a positive impact, there are still obstacles in the use of village funds, these obstacles include: lack of community participation in village development, weak human resources, budget limitations, slow disbursement of funds, and other external factors.