Strategies for Community Empowerment and Participation by Social Institutions in Improving Environmental Well being: A Systematic Literature Review

Abstract

Community empowerment is a crucial approach in development that positions the community as the primary actor. Social institutions play a strategic role as a bridge between public policy and community needs, as well as catalysts for capacity building and participation. This study aims to synthesise the empowerment strategies implemented by social institutions, the factors influencing their success, and their impact on community and environmental well-being.

The study employed a Systematic Literature Review approach in accordance with the PRISMA 2020 guidelines. Data were obtained from Scopus, Web of Science, ScienceDirect, Semantic Scholar and ResearchGate for the period 2015–2026. A total of 33 articles meeting the criteria were analysed using thematic synthesis techniques.

The results indicate that an asset-based approach is the most dominant strategy, emphasising the utilisation of local potential. The success of empowerment is influenced by the quality of community participation, the strength of social capital, and institutional capacity. Substantive participation and high levels of trust have been shown to enhance the effectiveness and sustainability of programmes. The impact of empowerment extends beyond economic aspects to include improvements in social welfare, the quality of public services, and environmental sustainability.

These findings underscore the importance of designing programmes that are participatory, based on local potential, and long-term oriented