Toward a Sustainable Communal Development Fund Institution: A Grounded Theory Model from Ghana, the Philippines, and Indonesia

Persistent poverty in many developing economies has exposed the limits of strategies that treat poor communities mainly as recipients of external finance. This qualitative study develops a preliminary grounded theory model for a Sustainable Communal Development Fund Institution (SCDFI) by examining indigenous systems of mutual assistance, rotating savings, and pooled resources. Data came from informal semistructured interviews with five participants: three from Ghana, one from the Philippines, and one from Indonesia. Constant comparison, open coding, memo writing, and category development produced four interdependent dimensions. Asetena Nneyoye represents culturally legitimate norms and values, including trust, fairness, integrity, acceptance, and reciprocal responsibility. Ohene Kyineye represents governance roles, accountability, organizational continuity, and community-based rules. Nnoboa captures collective agency, inclusion, networking, skill sharing, and the capacity to complete tasks beyond individual means. Susu represents disciplined contributions, pooled savings, long-term capital formation, and support for individual and communal enterprise. Together, these dimensions explain how small, repeated contributions may become locally governed development capital. The model complements formal finance by connecting indigenous solidarity with transparent governance, financial discipline, and community investment. It provides a framework for future research on community-led poverty reduction and inclusive local development.