Social Capital Empowerment in the Designing of Poverty Mitigation Model

Abstract

The importance of social capital in mitigating poverty was determined by network and mutual trust in the community. The poor with higher social capital should be those who can pass through economic crisis.

Research was aimed to understand, analyze and interpret how social capital can support poverty mitigation through Expectant Family Program (PKH = Program Keluarga Harapan), and also to formulate social capital empowerment in the designing of poverty mitigation model in PKH in Masigi Sub-District, Parigi District, Parigi Moutong Regency, Central Sulawesi.

Method of research was descriptive qualitative with case study approach. Data collection technique included interview, focus group discussion, observation and documentation. Informant was selected through purposive sampling. The scope of research was about social capital empowerment for poverty mitigation in PKH.

Result of research indicated that the social capital empowerment in Expectant Family Program in Masigi Sub-District had successfully changed perception, interaction pattern (social relationship), participation rate, and shared-work among the beneficiary groups of the Program. The success was measured from trust, norms, and network. Trust was growing in the group and it can be seen from the presence of honesty behavior, regularity, and cooperation based on collectively attended norms. This situation was established due to the sense of kinship and equality regardless background and social status. It may also create an engagement or bonding social capital among the beneficiary groups of Expectant Family Program. The strength of bonding social capital can further be enforced by the effect of bridging social capital and linking social capital. However, linking social capital was not optimally influential.