The Role of Islamic Philanthropy in Promoting Coastal Community Economic Empowerment to Support the Blue Economy: A Study of Kenjeran Beach, Surabaya

Abstract

This paper examines how Islamic philanthropy contributes to the blue economy by empowering coastal communities, with a focus on Kenjeran Beach, Surabaya, a site that highlights a paradox where abundant marine resources coexist with persistent poverty and ecological stress. Using a qualitative–descriptive literature review approach, the study analyzes secondary data drawn from journals, books, proceedings, and theses published between 2015 and 2024, which are classified into three main themes: coastal socio-economics and the blue economy, the role of Islamic philanthropy in community empowerment, and the integration of Islamic social finance with sustainable development. The findings indicate that the implementation of blue economy practices in Kenjeran remains limited due to gaps in governance and technology, while Islamic philanthropy, particularly in the form of productive zakat and waqf, has contributed to improving community livelihoods but has not yet been systematically integrated with sustainability-oriented development goals. The study concludes that aligning blue economy principles with Islamic philanthropy provides a practical, ethical, and sustainable model for fostering inclusive and resilient coastal development.