Community Participation and Sustainability of German International Cooperation Project Interventions in Napak District, Uganda

Abstract

The study is an examination of the influence of community participation on sustainability of GIZ project interventions in Napak district, part of the Greater Karamoja Sub-Region located in North-Eastern Uganda. The objectives that guided the study specifically sought to investigate the influence of community participation in project design, Implementation, as well as in M&E on sustainability of GIZ project interventions that were undertaken in the sub-counties of Irriri, Matany and Lopoko in Napak district. The study used a cross-sectional survey design that applied both quantitative and qualitative approaches targeting a sample size of 217 respondents who were determined using systematic random and purposive random sampling techniques of sampling. Questionnaires, interviews and documentary review research methods were used for data collection and data was then analysed using Pearson’s correlation coefficient techniques. Key findings among others included restricted disclosure of M&E findings and reports, which for that matter were found not to inform decisions at grass root level, community participation in allocation of rganizational resources was limited to a decision of a few, coordination and synergy building with other stakeholders was also not fully explored as areas of duplication of interventions and roles were evident, and the coordinative role and mechanisms of government were not often fully exploited and, as a result parallel competing structures were formed that undermined existing government structures at all levels of government in the district. The findings of the study revealed that there was a positive relationship between community participation in project design; implementation; M&E and sustainability of GIZ project interventions in Napak district.