Success of Community Participation in Development Planning for Socio-Economic Transformation in Rwanda. Gakenke District
- July 30, 2020
- Posted by: RSIS
- Categories: IJRISS, Social Science
International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS) | Volume IV, Issue VII, July 2020 | ISSN 2454–6186
Dr. Rwabutogo Zogeye Marcel (PhD), Dr. Benard Nuwatuhaire (PhD)
Kigali Independent University, ULK, Rwanda
Abstract: The study attempted to assess the success of community participation in development planning process in Gakenke District in Rwanda. The study adopted a cross-sectional design using both quantitative and qualitative research approaches on a sample of 76 respondents. Quantitative data involved the use of descriptive statistics particularly frequencies, percentages and the mean. Findings of revealed that the development planning process remains top-down approach, priorities from the community are rarely taken into account and community participation is often used as a word of fantasy wherein the community has no role to play unless and until a comprehensive detailed plan is prepared by the development authority. The needs and priorities from the community are not taken into account as needed into the district development strategy; this situation contributes certainly to the rate of poverty of the district because implemented projects are not responding necessarily to the direct needs of communities. The study recommended to lighten the top-down approach and reinforce the bottom-up approach through the utilization of the community participation tools, empowering people through capacity building for staffs and local leaders at all levels of the district; equipping them with knowledge, skills and confidence to address their own needs and advocate on their own behalf and improve their capacity for collective activity for more socio-economic transformation results.
Key words: Community development, development planning & Socio-economic transformation.
I. INTRODUCTION
Contemporary planning theories acknowledge the value of community participation in the development processes, the reason why most developing countries have embarked on the administrative decentralization to empower citizens and help them to improve their living standards through participatory approaches. In Rwanda, the participatory planning began effectively in 1999 was followed by an effort to find common ground between the government’s vision and the concerns of the population under a model of consultation (Bugingo, 2002).
II. REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE
The importance of community participation
Across the nation, the desire for communities and development stakeholders to solve local problems and reduce socioeconomic disparities is increasingly recognized by policymakers, local elected officials and citizens. The idea of participation has long been part of development thinking but today it has become mandatory in planning development projects (Chauya, 2015).
