The Mediating Role of MSME Knowledge in the Effect of Halal Outreach on Participation in Free Halal Certification at the Office of Religious Affairs of Malili
Abstract
This study analyzes the effect of halal outreach conducted by the Office of Religious Affairs (KUA) of Malili on the knowledge and participation of micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in the free halal certification program (Sehati), and examines the mediating role of MSME knowledge. Employing a quantitative associative-causal design, the study surveyed 80 MSME owners in Malili District, East Luwu Regency, who had attended halal outreach sessions and were selected through purposive sampling. Data were collected using a five-point Likert scale questionnaire administered online and face to face, and analyzed using Partial Least Squares–Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) with 500 bootstrap subsamples. The results show that halal outreach has a positive and significant effect on MSME knowledge (β = 0.336; p = 0.003), and MSME knowledge has a positive and significant effect on MSME participation (β = 0.453; p = 0.003). In contrast, halal outreach has no direct effect on participation (β = 0.060; p = 0.809). MSME knowledge fully mediates the effect of halal outreach on participation (indirect effect = 0.152; p = 0.048; VAF = 71.6%). These findings indicate that outreach encourages participation only when it succeeds in improving knowledge, particularly regarding certification procedures and required documents. The KUA should therefore adopt measurable knowledge gains as the indicator of outreach success and provide assistance until halal certificates are issued.
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