The economic empowerment program for marginalized communities in Papua has strengths because it utilizes local potential, involves culture and indigenous communities, provides training and mentoring, offers access to capital, and promotes equitable development. However, the program also faces several weaknesses, such as top-down planning tendencies, lack of monitoring and sustainability, limited infrastructure and market access, emerging dependency on aid, low business management literacy, socio-cultural barriers, and minimal inter-agency coordination. Overall, the effectiveness of empowerment largely depends on the alignment of programs with local needs, strengthening long-term capacity, and synergy among stakeholders to ensure that the outcomes are truly sustainable and enhance the independence of Papuan communities.
Prof Dr Balthasar Kambuaya, M. B A1*, Dr Maylen K P Kambuaya SE MSi2 (Tue,) studied this question.