Pemberdayaan UMKM Berbasis Participatory Action Research (PAR) di Kampung Pia Kabupaten Pasuruan

Abstract

Empowering MSMEs is an important effort to increase business capacity, but the involvement of business actors in each stage of the program is often not optimal. This study aims to describe the stages of empowerment of MSMEs in Pia Village, Pasuruan Regency, based on Participatory Action Research (PAR), implemented in collaboration with the distributor PT Sriboga Flour Mill. The study used a qualitative descriptive approach with participants consisting of the head of the Waru Sukses Berkarya Cooperative association, owners and employees of MSMEs in Pia, and the distributor. Data were collected through in-depth interviews, participant observation, and documentation, then analyzed using thematic analysis by Braun and Clarke (2006). The results showed that empowerment was implemented through five stages: identification, planning, program design, implementation and monitoring, and evaluation. The empowerment program focused on training and mentoring for product innovation and digital marketing. The implementation of activities resulted in changes in the form of increased insight of MSME actors in developing product variations, improving packaging, and utilizing social media and digital platforms for marketing. However, the involvement of MSME actors in several stages was still uneven and tended to be dominated by association administrators and external parties. Therefore, increased involvement of all MSME actors is needed to make the empowerment process more participatory and sustainable.