4.

6 Discussion of The Findings

This chapter presents the discussion of findings in connection with the study objectives.
Consistently, the basis of the discussion of findings is the specific objectives of the study. In
additional to that, discussion of respondents’ profile in connection to community participation
was also conducted so as to explain its implications in relation to the study objectives.

4.6.1 Demographic Respondents Profile

The section provides the discussion of findings of the demographic respondents’ profile in
relation to community participation. This is because respondents are community members and
beneficiaries in water project within the study area. The variables discussed are gender, age,
marital status, education level, respondents time in the village and occupation. The findings are
discussed as follows: -

4.6.1.1 Gender of Respondents

The results revealed that, 53 (64.6%) of the participants were male and 29 (35.4%) of the
respondents were female. This implies that beneficiaries as community members in water
projects in localities are both men and women. This is acknowledged by Abebe (2013) that
beneficiaries in UVICO 19 classes projects are community members as individuals comprising
both men and women provided that they live in such localities with water services available.
Abebe (2013) also pointed that participation in water project is essential for all community
members regardless of their gender.

4.6.1.2 Age of Respondents

The study findings revealed that 17 (20.7%) of the respondents were aged 18-30 years, while 39
(47.6%) of the respondents were aged between 31-45 years, 19 (23.2%) of the respondents were
aged 46-60 years, and 7 (8.5%) respondents were aged 61 years and above. The implication of
the results is that beneficiaries of UVICO 19 classes projects and services in communities are
individuals and persons of all age groups and categories. This is also acknowledged by Amori et
al (2012) that beneficiaries in UVICO 19 classes projects in communities are individuals in all
age groups from children to the aged people. In additional to that, most of the respondents in
terms of age were socially and economically productive and active as they fell within the range
of 18 to 60 years old which forms 91.5%. This is also supported by Baur and Woodhouse (2008)
that in order for the community members to participate well in water projects they must be active
and be able to contribute their efforts in both cash and kind.

4.6.1.3 Marital Status of Respondents

The study findings revealed that 43 (52.4%) were married, while 27 (32.9%) were unmarried, 8
(9.8%) respondents were widows/widowers and 4 (4.9%) of the respondents were divorced. This
implies that beneficiaries of UVICO 19 classes projects who are also supposed to participate in
community projects are people with different marital status that some are married, others single
with some also being widower, widowed and others have been divorced. This is also
acknowledged by Shayo (2013) suggesting that beneficiaries in water projects in communities all
over the globe are people with different marital status that some may be married and others not
married with some have been divorced and widows.

4.6.1.4 Education Level of Respondents

Under this category, the study findings revealed different catergories of education levels of
community. The implication of the findings is that beneficiaries in water projects in communities
are individuals in various level of education from those who have not been educated to those
with tertiary level of education. The assertion is also shared with Shayo (2013) stating that
beneficiaries in community UVICO 19 classes projects are people of all levels of education and
those who have not being educated. This is certain because they are all beneficiaries and groups
that enjoy from such services within the community and they are supposed to participate in
various project activities.

4.6.1.5 Respondents Time in the Village

The study findings revealed that 93.9% of the respondents have been living in the project area for
6 years and above continuously. This indicates that they were the right persons to provide the
right information concerning planning, construction and community participation in the
respective UVICO 19 classes project. This is also supported by Boru (2012) who suggested that
community members who have stayed in the respective society for more than 5 years are capable
of providing relevant and reliable information.
4.6.1.6 Economic Activities of Respondents
The study revealed that the great percentage of the economic activities is on farming which is
63.4%. Farming process enabled the farmers to get food and income for facilitating daily life. It
is through this economic activity that a community can efficiently and effectively be able to
participate in UVICO 19 classes project projects in kind and on cash. Other economic activities
which involved pastoralism (9.8%), Business (12.2%) and official employment (14.6%) also
facilitate the additional income of the community. This is supports study conducted by
Kaminyonge (2008) which suggested that members of community with different occupations
have to participate in rural development projects so that they can share various experiences.

4.6.2 The Community Participation on Building Classes (UVICO 19) Projects

Sustainability
Under this objective, the study findings revealed that community were not fully involved during
planning of the project because all important activities concerning planning were performed by
project consultant. This is against the World Bank Programme Implementation Manual, PIM
(2006) which stipulates that respective community through their local leaders should participate
fully in all stages of the project including planning.

The study revealed that the level of community participation in this building classes (UVICO 19)
projects was not satisfactory. This is because, with the exception of attending meeting activity
where the total output under full and partial participation was above 40%, other activities like
participating in terms of cash contribution, labor and decision making, the total output under
partial and full participation was below 20%. This implies that the level of community
participation in the project was very minimal.

This reflects Kaminyonge (2008) who insisted in his study that community should participate in
various constructional activities, participating in meetings held purposely for related issues and
participating in making decision pertaining to classes (UVICO 19) projects. The findings in this
study also supports Singh (2015) who clearly stipulated that in order for the classes (UVICO 19)
projects to operate efficiently and effectively so as to attain project sustainability, community
must participate in planning, implementation and operation and maintenance of the project.

4.6.3 The Political Interference on Building Classes (UVICO 19) Projects Sustainability
The findings in this study revealed that there is misunderstanding between key informants from
the district level and the respondents from the village. While key informants insisted that village
leadership was involved in the project important activities so as to influence their members to
participate in project implementation, respondents from the village insisted that the influence of
leadership on community participation was very minimal because even the local leaders
themselves were not fully involved. The situation created the gap for achieving community
participation as well as project ownerships and sustainability.

This is also supporting Brikke (2015) who argued that lack of bond between high level leaders
and village leaders normally create a gap which affect community participation and project
sustainability. The study conducted by Boru (2012) suggests that both community leadership and
project officials from district council should have common understand for successfully
implementation of rural development project.

Baboon’s (2008) study on community participation in development projects also suggested that,
in order to achieve efficient and effective community participation, village leaders within the
respective area of the project must be involved fully so that they can influence the community to
participate accordingly.

4.6.1.4 The Effect of Cultural Beliefs on Projects Sustainability

The study found that culture has influence on project sustainability by 89%. According to the
findings from the narrative qualitative methods culture affects behaviours of people, regulates
the mindset of the community member on development perspectives, and nurtures the sense of
willingness to collaborate with others. These findings were got support from the research report
from the Nordic culture point (NCP) (2016) that went further to explain in details the role of
culture to sustainability of development in the following words;

“Culture and sustainability fundamentally interact due to the essential

qualities that are useful for the society grow in social, economic and
ecological perspectives. Culture treasures qualities of creativity,
critical thinking, empathy, trust, mutual respect and willingness to take
risks (NCP, 2016 pp.7). In the language of project development, culture is
instrument of social empowerment since it bridges all other pillars of
development (economic, social and environmental) in the modern society
 where things are dynamic. It is through culture that sustainable
development becomes a reality since the society is defined by its culture
(NCP,2016 pp.9).”
The NCP (2016) has theoretically explained the link between culture and sustainability. The
theoretical explications were in fervour of the findings of the present study. However, the
influence of culture of people in Ikungi was disproportional to water project sustainability by
73%. There was poor creativity and innovations abilities, the lifestyles portrayed high
level of dependence, and very little willingness to contribute for water tariffs.

There are different literatures in support of community culture as a strategy to influence DFPs
sustainability through community participations (World Bank, 2008; Agenda 21for Culture,
2016). The culture of the society is disclosed when people are properly engaged in development
projects since the community is empowered through exposure that breaks down the culture of
poverty and belief on fate (World Bank, 2008). It is imperative therefore to confer aspect
of culture in the development of projects since human values, and beliefs about donor
funded projects are housed in the culture and traditional practices of the society (Agenda 21 for
Culture, 2016). In Ikungi the culture of people was observed to be less adaptive and pathetic to
projects developments and sustainability. There is a high need to empower people under their
cultural settings.