Community Economic Empowerment through Cultivation of Enceng Gondok Program using Community Engagement Program Approach in West Aceh District

Abstraksi

According to Indonesia’s National Bureau of Statistics (BPS) (in Guci, I.D. 2017) Aceh Barat is one of the poorest districts in Aceh Province. This is in part due to conflict and natural disasters, including the tsunami in 2004. This paper describes the Innovative KPM - UMD Program implemented by the UIN Ar Raniry Community Engagement Unit. The Innovative KPM - UMD is part of the University Develops the Village (UMD) initiative, supported by KOMPAK (an Australia Indonesia partnership working to reduce poverty and inequality in Indonesia). The Innovative KPM - UMD supported economic empowerment for women who create handicrafts with the water Enceng Gondok (hyacinth water) plant in Aceh Barat. This paper use a mixed method approach and includes interview and direct observation data to describe and document program implementation and its impacts. The program conducted by lecturers and students from LP2M UIN Ar Raniry and participants from three Villages in Arongan Lambalek sub district in Aceh Barat. The program was implemented in three phases: institutional preparation, craft and human resource training, and marketing. The timeframe for the Program was six months from October 2016 to March 2017. The program succeeded in creating five productive business groups producing handicrafts made from enceng gondok. In general, communities were supportive of the program because of its benefits to the welfare of participants and the village. Program constraints and the role that government can play in the supporting and expanding the program benefits are discussed.