How Can Saemaul Official Development Assistance Enhance Community Well-being in Africa? A Grounded Theory Analysis of Singoli, Cote d’Ivoire

This study explores the effects of a Saemaul Pilot Village project in Singoli, Cote d’Ivoire, focusing on how the project changed the village and its residents’ lives. The study analyzes qualitative data from a 2024 ex post evaluation of the project that includes three focus groups and eleven in-depth interviews with local residents and project experts. Following Strauss and Corbin’s grounded theory approach, data were analyzed through open coding, axial coding, and finally presented in a paradigm model to explain the central phenomena of life changes through participation in Saemaul Undong. Causal conditions were identified as poverty, climate change and drought, and difficulty in hunting and gathering. Lack of infrastructure, main road construction, and selection as Saemaul project site were identified as contextual conditions. Community commitment, local leadership, and strong partnership with Saemaul Foundation were identified as intervening conditions. The action/interaction strategies were Saemaul training, community cooperation, and resident organizing. This led to the consequences of economic independence for individuals, change in household and family relations, enhancement of village conditions and self-governing capacity, and increase in village pride. The findings identify key factors necessary for enhancing community well-being through official development assistance.