Community Participation in Development Projects: A Case Study of Musufini Irrigation Project in Moshi District Council

Abstract

This research was about assessment of community participation in development projects in Tanzania and was focused on challenges and prospects. The study aimed at revealing the challenges facing community participation in development projects, and suggests the ways to improve the situation. It was conducted at Musufini irrigation project in Moshi District Council. Specifically, it aimed at exploring challenges facing community participation in development projects by assessing the levels of community participation in project identification, designing, implementation, and in monitoring and evaluation. Further, it aimed at analyzing methods used in development community projects. The techniques used for data collection included interviewing, documentary review, focus group discussions and observations. Literature review was done to find out the kind of framework of studied problem. The study established that the major challenges that faced community participation in development projects were many, but mostly they included corruption, inadequate education to the community and lesser community involvement in development projects. Others were poverty, shortage of experts in rural areas, and government bureaucracy. The study identified methods which were used to engage the community in development projects. Such methods included implementing and financing the projects, giving views and providing expertise. In addition, they also included the provision of inputs and expressing personal concerns. The study concluded that in order to improve performance and sustainability of development projects adequate community participation is quite inevitable.