Community Participation on Watershed Management Programme. The Case of Gemechis District, Oromia, Ethiopia

Abstract

This study was conducted in Gemechis distract, Oromia regional state, to evaluate levels of community participation towards watershed management practices. The study area was selected purposively based on accessibility and potential of watershed management interventions. Four-wheel accessible kebeles were categorized into three agro-ecological groups (Dega, weynadega and Kola). After these considerations, three kebeles were randomly selected from each agro-ecological category and all micro-watersheds within the kebeles where watershed management has been implemented by campaign work were considered for this study. The total household heads in was identified and stratified into two strata: farmers engaged in farming activates and others. Then the representative sample was selected randomly from the former strata (farmers engaged in farming activates). Data were collected through field observation, household questionnaire survey, focused group discussion and key informant interview. Qualitative data obtained was analyzed qualitatively using appropriate words. Quantitative data was employed using descriptive statistics such as percentages and frequency.  Finally, the extent of People’s Participation Index was measured. The study revealed that only 10% of the respondents were participated in all phases (planning, implementation; and monitoring and evaluation) of watershed development actives while 40.8% of the respondents were participated in two phases only (planning and implementation). The remaining 49.2% of the respondents were participated in implementation phase alone. This low participation in all phases (i.e.10%) of watershed development activities may not fully negotiate stakeholder’s interests to set their priorities, evaluate opportunities, implement and monitor the outcomes.  The people participation index during implementation phase was computed as 71.14% (high level of participation) while the least/low level (11.28%) of participation was recorded during monitoring and evaluation. Besides, the people participation index throughout planning phase which was calculated as 35.4% (moderate level of participation). This indicates that there was more enforcement of the people by the government for labour contribution during implementation phase alone. Generally, the overall community participation index on watershed development and management in the study area was computed as 39.28 percent (table). This showed that the level of community participation in the study area fall within moderate level category.

Keywords: Community Participation Index, Planning, Implementation, Monitoring and Evaluation