Community participation, spiritual intelligence, and sustainable village development: The role of Tri Hita Karana in traditional fund management

Abstract

This study examines the management of Traditional Village Funds (Dana Desa Adat) and their impact on village development based on Tri Hita Karana philosophy in Tabanan Regency, Bali Province. The research investigates the influence of community participation, spiritual intelligence, village characteristics, and monitoring and evaluation on fund management and traditional village development. This quantitative research employed a survey method with 78 traditional villages in Tabanan Regency as samples, selected using the Slovin formula from a population of 349 traditional villages. Data were collected through structured questionnaires and analyzed using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) with SmartPLS 3.0. The results reveal that community participation (Mean=4.292), spiritual intelligence (Mean=4.141), village characteristics (Mean=4.224), and monitoring and evaluation (Mean=4.154) significantly influence traditional village fund management (Mean=4.253). Furthermore, these variables, along with fund management, demonstrate significant positive effects on traditional village development based on Tri Hita Karana principles (Mean=4.137). This study contributes to the literature by integrating the indigenous Balinese philosophy of Tri Hita Karana into rural development theory and practice. It provides empirical evidence on the critical role of spiritual intelligence and cultural characteristics in public fund management, offering valuable insights for policymakers in designing culturally sensitive development programs in indigenous communities.