PROMOTING THE POTENTIAL OF COMMUNITY LEADERS IN COORDINATING WITH CIVIL SOCIETY AGENCIES IN DON TUM SUBDISTRICT, BANG LEN DISTRICT, NAKHON PATHOM PROVINCE

Abstract

This study aimed to: 1) investigate the problems and potential of community leaders in coordinating with civil society organizations in Don Tum Subdistrict, Bang Len District, Nakhon Pathom Province; 2) develop activities to enhance community leaders’ capacity to coordinate with civil society organizations; and 3) evaluate the outcomes of the capacity-building activities. This study employed an action research design. The participants comprised 20 key informants for in-depth interviews, 10 experts for focus group discussions, and 21 target community leaders who participated in the action research process. The research instruments included an in-depth interview guide, a focus group discussion guide, and an action research recording form. Data were collected through document review, in-depth interviews, focus group discussions, and the Plan–Act–Observe–Reflect cycle. Qualitative data were analyzed using content analysis and analytic induction.

The findings revealed that:

1) Regarding the problems and potential of community leaders in coordinating with civil society organizations in Don Tum Subdistrict, Bang Len District, Nakhon Pathom Province, community leaders already played important roles in coordination and intersectoral linkage; however, systematic capacity development was still needed in four key dimensions: (1) digital technology and AI skills; (2) communication, negotiation, mediation, and conflict management; (3) morality, ethics, and good governance; and (4) leadership, participation, and collaboration. 2) The development of activities for enhancing community leaders’ coordination with civil society organizations was found to constitute a holistic capacity-building process integrating technology and AI, communication and mediation, morality and good governance, as well as leadership and collaborative participation. 3) The evaluation of the capacity-building activities showed that the four areas of activities contributed to the development of community leaders’ knowledge, skills, ethical awareness, and leadership capacity, particularly in communication, coordination, problem-solving, trust-building, and the establishment of collaborative networks with civil society organizations.