Dynamics of local leadership and community asset mobilization in Makassar's community-based waste management program

The waste volume in Makassar City has escalated significantly, reaching over 1,500 tons per day due to changing consumption patterns. Amidst this crisis, community-based waste management programs are a vital solution, though their success is highly dependent on internal dynamics. This phenomenological study analyzes the central role of local leadership and the process of community asset mobilization in sustaining the program's continuity. Data were collected through in-depth interviews and observation, and thematically analyzed to uncover the meaning of the actors' experiences. Findings reveal that local leadership acts as a dynamic catalyst. Leaders mobilize assets by building strategic partnerships with various parties, including the government, CBOs, and the private sector. This collaboration is then operationalized through a structured division of roles and capacity-building programs, such as entrepreneurship and organizational development training, to ensure long-term sustainability. The study concludes that the core of the program's success lies in the leadership's ability to synergistically orchestrate internal and external assets, transforming them into an organized collective movement. Therefore, it is recommended that future support prioritizes strengthening leadership and community organizational capacity, rather than merely physical aid.