Stakeholder Empowerment and Implementation of Sustainable Community Food Security Projects in Nyando Basin, Kenya

Abstract

Implementation of sustainable community food security projects is a major challenge not only in Kenya, but also in many developing countries affected by acute food insecurity. Anecdotal evidence suggests that stakeholder empowerment may have an influence on implementation of community food security projects. However, few studies have established the association between stakeholder empowerment and implementation of community. The study was conducted in the Nyando basin of Western Kenya. The Nyando basin is one of the regions in Kenya that experiences serious food insecurity. The perennial flooding and with the basin exposes the families and communities in the Nyando Basin not only to food insecurity but also to diseases that cumulatively affect the productive capacity of the families and communities living within the basin.  A cross-sectional study design was used. The target population was 769 people composed of members of three food security projects (cassava, sorghum and sweet potato projects), agricultural extension officers, county government officials, managers of non-governmental organizations providing technical support to community food security projects within the basin.  A sample size of 260 was computed using Krecjie and Morgan (1970) sample size estimation. Data was collected using questionnaire. Simple random sampling and stratified sampling procedures were used. Descriptive and inferential data were analysed. Descriptive statistics included frequencies, means and standard deviation, while inferential statistics included Pearson product moment correlation coefficient, coefficient of determination, ANOVA and regression coefficients. There was statistically significant relationship between stakeholder empowerment and implementation of sustainable community food security projects ((r = 0.292 and p = 0.000; thus, p value of 0.000 < 0.05). It is recommended that stakeholder empowerment processes should be prioritized in community food security projects to make them sustainable. It is also recommended that stakeholder empowerment should be integrated in community food security policies and projects.

Keywords: Stakeholder Empowerment, Food Security, Sustainable Community Food Security Projects, Nyando Basin.

DOI: 10.7176/JESD/11-4-15

Publication date: February 29^th 2020