Community Participation in Urban Road Infrastructure Development Projects: The Case of Wolkite Town, Ethiopia

Abstract

Community participation is regarded as an important approach adopted in development projects. This study seeks to examine community participation in urban road infrastructure development projects in Wolkite Town, Ethiopia. A convergent mixed design was adopted whereby data was gathered through questionnaires, key informants interview, focused group discussions and document analysis. A sample of 366 household heads, 21 focused group participants and 9 key informants were selected utilizing purposive and simple random sampling techniques’ to elicit information for this study. Data obtained from focus group discussion and interviews were analyzed qualitatively, and used for the purpose of triangulation. The study found that the level of community participation in Road infrastructure development projects was generally low. Besides the majority of community members were not aware of their roles and responsibilities in road development projects and that urban residents were generally not actively involved in decision making, planning, monitoring and evaluation processes. Findings also revealed that the institutional structures installed by the municipality to involve communities in local development initiatives especially roads are highly disorganized and unsustainable implying that community participation in road infrastructure development projects was carried out in campaigns and was not well institutionalized in the Town. The major challenges that hinder community participation in road infrastructure development were lack of awareness, poor coordination and communication between local authorities and communities, weak institutional structures and lack of resources. The paper concludes that for effective community participation in urban road development projects, overcoming barriers to participation and promoting more participatory approach was essential.

Keywords: Community Participation, Challenges, Urban Road Infrastructure Development Projects, Wolkite Town.

DOI: 10.7176/RHSS/12-17-03

Publication date:September 30^th 2022