Women’s Empowerment in the Desa Prima Gumregah Program in Putat Village, Gunungkidul Regency: A Robert Chambers Perspective

Abstract

This study aims to analyze the stages and implementation of empowerment in the Desa Prima Gumregah program in Putat Village, Gunungkidul Regency, and to identify the factors that hinder the community empowerment process. This study employs a descriptive qualitative approach, with data collected through interviews, observations, documentation, and secondary data, and analyzed using Robert Chambers’ perspective on empowerment, which encompasses people-centered, participatory, empowerment, and sustainability. The research findings indicate that empowerment has been implemented through these four aspects. The people-centered aspect is evident in the members’ aspirations to establish a joint business and develop souvenir products based on local potential. The participatory aspect is demonstrated through the members’ involvement in expressing their aspirations and participating in group activities, while empowerment is evident in the improvement of their skills, self-confidence, and economic independence. Sustainability is demonstrated through product innovation and business sustainability. However, the empowerment process still faces obstacles, including members’ commitment and sense of responsibility, the quality and availability of raw materials, suboptimal digital marketing, and challenges in maintaining members’ commitment to the collective business’s sustainability. These obstacles indicate that the challenges to the empowerment of Desa Prima Gumregah stem primarily from internal group dynamics rather than from a lack of capital.