Abstract:
A study on community participation in water development projects was conducted in
Mbeya district in Mbeya region. The study investigated community participation in rural
domestic waterdevelopment projects. A total of 120 respondents from six villages were
interviewed using interview schedule. Interview with key informants and focus group
discussions (FGDs) were also conducted. The analysis of collected data was done using the
Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). This study found that the level of
participation in selected rural water development projects undertaken was low. It also
found that only 85% of the respondents participated in the implementation of water
projects. The study further found that 45%, 37.5%, 32.5% and 30.8% of the respondents
respectively participated in evaluation, problem identification, monitoring and decision
making. The study also revealed that participation of the community in water projects was
hindered by individual, technical and leadership related problems. With respect to sex the
study showed that a greater number of males participated in the projects more than
females. The respondents with income from Tshs 20,000 – 29,999 and those in households
contributing less than Tshs. 499 participated more in water projects than the other category
of respondents. The data also showed that a greater number of the respondents in the age
group of 25 – 44 years participated in the water projects more than those in the other age
groups. The Chi – square tests indicated that the level of participation in water projects
activities was associated with sex, age, household income and village size at 0.05 percent
level of significance. Furthermore, the data showed that there was no statistically
significant relationship between the level of participation in water projects and marital
status, level of education and main occupation at 0.05 percent level of significance.
