The role of self-help groups in social capital development:a systematic review

Abstract

the relationship between self-help groups and social capital formation has beenextensively discussed by the research community in recent decades from severalperspectives. to understand the role of self-help groups in social capital development,this review examines the literature published from 2011 to 2024. the Scopus databasewas utilised to gather literature on self-help groups and social capital. By applyingvarious exclusion and inclusion criteria, 24 papers were identified as suitable, and theanalysis was conducted using the SPAR-4-SlR framework proposed by Paul et al. Aconceptual model was developed based on the input-moderator-mediator-outputframework, which includes antecedents, mediators, moderators, and outcomes (Deviet al.). this proposed model elucidates the relationship between existing theoreticalmodels and the current research premises. the methodology adopted in this study aidsresearchers in exploring the complexities of social capital development and suggestsstrategies to enhance the effectiveness of self-help groups. the implications of thisreview are manifold; researchers will gain a clearer picture of the concept and itsvarious dimensions, practitioners can use the developed framework to evaluate andimprove their methods in supporting SHg activities, and policies can be framed aimedat maximising the impact of SHgs and similar initiatives. given the growing importanceof SHgs observed from the findings of this study, it is highly recommended thatpolicymakers, implementing agencies, and Ngos prioritize the role of SHgs in socialcapital development.