Decentralisation and Community Development Project (DCDP) on Socio – Economic Development of Local People: A Case Study of Rambura Sector, Nyabihu District

Abstract

The Decentralization and Community Development Project was initiated by the Ministry of Local Government (MINALOC) with support fund from The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in 2004. That project had the main objective of supporting new decentralized entities (Districts and Sectors) in terms of community development and welfare. The purpose of this study was to assess the impact of decentralisation and community Development Projects on socio-economic development of local people. A case study of Decentralisation and Community Development Project (DCDP) in Rambura Sector, Nyabihu District. This study focused on the income generating activities in Rambura Sector, factors influencing sustainability of community development project activities, on the living standards of people. A sample of 66 households was selected from a population of 220 household beneficiaries of DCDP project. This study has been qualitative and quantitative in design. The research instruments included a quantitative, close-ended questionnaire and a qualitative and the instrument was administrated to the head of households. The responses to the open-ended standardized interviews tabulated based on the frequency and percentage of responses. The close-ended questionnaires had been analysed based on the frequency and percentage of responses. The major findings of this study showed that about the effect on income generating activities from DCDP in Rambura Sector and in accordance to this objective; 59 people of 66 of respondents gained 25,000Rwf and above and that income is used for agriculture and livestock at 45.6 and for doing business the percentage is at 20.6. About the Decentralization and Community Development Project that influence its sustainability; the high percentage of respondents (100%) confirmed to beneficiate from DCDP activities. This implies the responsibility, hope and interest to still maintaining DCDP activities. The other factor influencing the sustainability of project activities is the existence of the decentralisation policy which gives power to the local government. Before the decentralisation (2004) even if the DCDP was started, the population was no aware of the DCDP (1.5%) but after decentralization, the awareness growth from 25% in 2005 to 51.5% in 2006 and at the closing period, 2011 the population was known all about DCDP. It means that there is a significant relationship between the decentralisation policy and the project implementation. The effect on the impact of community development project on living standards of the people showed that the project ranked at high level the empowerment (79.4%), income due to DCDP activities (94.1), education (76.5), health (76.5) and property 61.8. At the end of this study, some recommendations are addressed in order to emphasize the role of the local government in project activities maintenance.