<![CDATA[The National Strategic Program Koperasi Desa Merah Putih (KDMP) represents one of the Indonesian government’s strategic initiatives to strengthen rural economies by promoting independent, productive, and sustainable cooperative institutions. Rambah Village, located in Tanah Tumbuh District, possesses considerable community resources and development potential. However, the village continues to face several challenges, including limited institutional preparedness, inadequate administrative capacity, and low levels of community participation in the establishment and management of village cooperatives. These challenges highlight the need for facilitation activities as an essential preliminary step toward supporting the implementation of the national program. This final project aimed to facilitate the preparatory process for the National Strategic Program for KDMP in Rambah Village through administrative assistance, program socialization, and capacity building for community members and village officials in cooperative governance. The study employed a qualitative approach using field observations, semi-structured interviews, community outreach activities, focus group discussions, and technical assistance in preparing the administrative documents required for cooperative establishment. The findings indicate that the facilitation activities significantly improved community understanding of the role and benefits of village cooperatives, increased community participation in the program preparation process, and assisted the village government in fulfilling the administrative requirements for cooperative establishment. Furthermore, stronger coordination between community members and village authorities emerged as a key enabling factor in enhancing institutional readiness for implementing the National Strategic Program for KDMP in Rambah Village. In conclusion, the facilitation process provides an important foundation for establishing a sustainable village cooperative capable of improving community welfare while strengthening the local rural economy. The findings also suggest that participatory facilitation and institutional capacity building play a critical role in supporting the successful implementation of government-led rural cooperative development programs.]]>
