Community participation for rural poverty alleviation: A case of the Iban community in Malaysia

• Main Authors: Kwok, Chin Hoe, Wahab, Haris Abd, Bakar, Siti Hajar Abu, Islam, M. Rezaul
• Format: Article
• Published: SAGE Publications 2018
• Subjects: HN Social history and conditions. Social problems. Social reform; HT Communities. Classes. Races
• Online Access: http://eprints.um.edu.my/21884/; https://doi.org/10.1177/0020872816673890
• Institution: Universiti Malaya

This study aimed to uncover the influential factors of community participation in a rural poverty alleviation programme in Malaysia. A quantitative approach was used, and data were collected through a self-administered survey questionnaire from 260 respondents of the Iban community in Malaysia. The study considered 22 influential factors (18 as independent variables and 4 as dependent variables) to measure the level of community participation in decision-making, implementation, benefits sharing and evaluation. The study explored how these influential factors interacted with participation in a rural poverty alleviation programme. The results found a diversity of interacting factors within the forms of participation at the implementation level. The article contributes a dynamic and multi-dimensional understanding of how influential factors shape community participation processes. The findings are an important indicator to policy-makers and development practitioners.