Towards Programs Sustainability: An Empirical Analysis of the Socio-Cultural Determinants for Effective Community Participation in Development Programs in Tanzania

Abstract

The link between participation and development programs is embedded in the concept of participatory development. As such, there is no doubt that community participation has indeed been a constant theme in development dialogues for the past 50 years. This shows how important the concept of community participation continues to stand out as one of those key catalysts for successful implementation of development programs such that they remain sustainable.On account of this perception, this paper therefore set out to explore socio-cultural determinants for effective community participation in development programs in the context of Tanzania. Precisely, the paper posits that in order to achieve program sustainability, effective community participation in such programs is of paramount importance. Hence the need to ensure that any factors that have the potential to influence the extent of peoples’ participation in development programs need to be well responded to and addressed. In light of this view, this paper therefore looked into the socio-cultural factors or determinants so as to establish what could be the key socio-cultural factors for influencing effective community participation in development programs.

Keywords: Sustainability, Development Programs, Program Sustainability, Community Participation, Socio-cultural determinants

DOI: 10.7176/JESD/12-18-03

Publication date:September 30^th 2021