Community Participation and Development Projects: Case Study of Huye District, Rwanda

ABSTRACT Community participation in development project is a concept that is frequently mentioned in community development. Practitioners in development believe that in order for projects to success, they need to actively take a part in designing, planning, implementing and shaping the projects that affect them. The government of.Rwanda always executes different projects to ensure the promotion of community well-being. The study dealt with community participation in development project in Rwanda, a case study of lluye District. The research aimed at investigating the level of Community participation in Land Consolidation in the district; to determine level of land consolidation success in Huye district; and propose strategies through which the community can be brought to participate more in development projects in order to be more beneficial and successful. The research was carried out in 14 sectors that composed Huye District where the sample population were 56 respondents including 14 agronomists of sectors and 42 representatives of agriculture cooperatives. This research used an ex-post facto research design and quantitative method was used in this study. Questionnaires were analyzed in SPSS programs by using charts and tables of frequencies and percentages .The results of the study showed that level of community participation in Land Consolidation was low in land consolidation project. As revealed by the majority of respondents agreed. The rate of responses were under 50%.This rate explained why community was not well empowered and integrated in decision-making of.land consolidation. This research found out that the poor community participation affected also the success of land consolidation where agronomists of the districts approved that the project was successful to reduce the problem of land fragmentation, to improve land management, enhancing and protect environment. Unfortunately, the project failed to improve rural land productivity to provide sufficient crops of subsistence to the community which appeared as the main source of income, to reduce hunger and fight against malnutrition in rural. The thesis demonstrated that lack of community participation in land consolidation figured among problems that affect negatively the performance of the project and the researcher at the end suggested possible strategies through which the community would be brought to participate more in development projects in order to be more beneficial and successful.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

DECLARATION A I

DECLARATION B ii

DEDICATIONS iii

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS iv

LISTS OF ACRONYMS v

TABLE OF CONTENTS vi

LIST OF FIGURES ix

LIST OF TABLES x

ABSTRACT Xi

CHAPTER ONE 1

1.1 Introduction

1.2 Historical perspective I

1.2.1 Theoretical framework 2

1.2.2 Conceptual perspective 4

1.2.3 Contextual perspective (land consolidation project context) 5

1.3 Problem statement 6

1.7 Scope of the study 8

1.7.1 Geographical scope 8

1.7.2 Content scope 8

1 .8 Theoretical scope 9

1.8.1 Empowerment theory 9

1.8.2 Integrated theory to participation 10

1.8.3 Social inclusive theory participation 10

1.9 Significance of the study 11

1.10.1 Participation 11

1.10.2 Community 11

1.10.3 Community participation 11

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1.10.4 Development projects .11

1.10.5 Developmental programmes 12

1.10.6 Land consolidation project 12

CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW 13

2.1 Introduction 13

2.2 Review of Related Literature 13

2.2.1 The Concept of Participation 13

2.2.2 The Concept of Community participation 15

2.2.3 Land consolidation project 21

2.3 Theoretical Framework 25

2.4 Related Studies 28

2.5 Research Gap 32

2.6 Conclusion 33

CHAPTER ThREE: RESEARCH METHODOLOGY 34

3.1 Introduction 34

3.2 Research design~ 34

3.3 Research population 34

3.4 Sample size 35

3.5 Sampling procedures 36

3.6 Research Instrument 37

3.7 Validity and reliability of the Instruments 37

3.8 Data Gathering Procedures 38

3.9 During the administration of the questionnaires 38

3.10 Data Analysis 38

3.11 Ethical Consideration 39

3,12 Limitations of the study 39

3.13 Conclusion 39

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CHAPTER FOUR: DATA PRESENTATION, ANALYSIS AND

INTERPRETATION 40

4.1 Introduction 40

4.2 Data Presentation and Interpretations 40

4.2.1: Profile of respondents 41

4.2.2: The first objective of the study was to determine the level 43

4.2.2.1 Community participation through empowerment and communication43

4.2.2.2 Implication of community in decision-making of land consolidation .45

4.2.3 Second objective of the study was to determine the level to land 48

4.3 Discussion of the findings 53

4.3.1 Objective one: Determining the level of community participation 53

4.3.2. Objective two: determining the level of Land consolidation success....56

4.3.3 Objective three: Strategies through which the community 58

4.3.4 Conclusion 61

CHAPTER FIVE: SUMMARY OF THE MAJOR FINDINGS,

RECOMMENDATIONS AND CONCLUSIONS 62

5.1. Introduction 62

5.2. Summary of the major findings in terms of the objectives of the study ...62

5.2.1. Level of community participation in land consolidation in Huye 62

5.2.2. The findings ~n level of land consolidation success 62

5.2.3. Strategies through which the community can be brought 63

5.3 Conclusions 64

REFERENCE 67

APPENDIX I: INFORMED CONSENT 72

APPENDIX II: QUESTIONNAIRE 73

CURRICULUM VITAE 77