Social Capital & Our Cornerstones
Social Capital:
Social Capital is the network of relationships, norms, and values that enable people to work together, share resources, and support one another. Unlike human capital, which focuses on individual skills, social capital emphasizes collective networks built on trust, cooperation, and shared understanding. These networks help communities solve problems, achieve common goals, and build resilience, particularly in rural areas facing marginalization, poverty, and limited infrastructure. For farmers, social capital strengthens livelihoods by enabling resource sharing, knowledge exchange, market access, and collective action. It also supports better health, social cohesion, and resilience during crises such as droughts, floods, or economic shocks. Communities with strong social capital can form effective associations like self-help groups, savings-and-loan groups, cooperatives, and farmer-owned agribusinesses, enhancing productivity, income stability, and innovation.
Heifer integrates social capital into its development approach by helping communities build networks rooted in trust, shared values, and collective action. Our locally led model empowers community groups, especially women, to take ownership of progress, form cooperatives, and access learning, savings, and market opportunities. Programs such as farmer field schools and cooperative trainings provide natural spaces for networking and knowledge sharing. At the heart of this model is the 12 Cornerstones for Just and Sustainable Development, a set of group-based reflections guided by trained local facilitators that foster shared understanding, personal growth, and community collaboration.
