Transforming Social Capital Through Community Education: Strengthening Development Capacity In Iwon Indigenous Village, Papua
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: This article examines how social capital within an Indigenous community can be transformed into development capacity through community education in Iwon Indigenous Village, Gresi Selatan District, Jayapura Regency, Papua. Using a qualitative case study, the analysis draws on a 2024 social empowerment feasibility study, participatory observation, interviews, group discussions, and policy documents. The field component involved 16 purposively selected informants: one customary leader/head of clan, four village officials, two women representatives, four youth, and five active community members. Analysis focused on trust, social networks, customary leadership, local knowledge, and collective learning processes. Findings show that social capital does not automatically translate into development capacity. In Iwon, internal agreement and customary leadership supported engagement with government over telecommunications infrastructure, while participatory learning organized local knowledge into shared priorities. Community education therefore functions as a mechanism through which bonding social capital can be converted into bridging and linking capacities. The study contributes by specifying this learning-mediated conversion pathway and underscores the need for empowerment models integrating adult learning, participation, local culture, and institutional capacity building
Institution: Cenderawasih University
Language: English
Subfield: Development
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W7214732108