Where is Community Participation in the Locales? The Case of Sida’s Woreda Support Programme in Awabal Woreda
Addis Gedefaw
Abstract: Sida Amhara Rural Development Programme (SARDP), and specifically its Woreda (lowest administrative tier) Support Programme (WSP) component, is attempting to empower the woreda and the community. This study investigated the extent of participation of the community, the approaches used and problems encountered to realize community participation in WSP activities in Awabal woreda. The research revealed that Woreda Support Fund (WSF) was increasing; however, the power of the woreda over the fund was decreasing. The WSP used different participatory approaches in different Programme phases. Community participation was high in implementation in terms of contribution of labour and material while its involvement in the rest of project cycle was low. The low participation of the community was attributed to the approaches used and their poor implementation, high staff reshuffling and turnover, limited capacity of community members, lack of follow-ups on training, and lack of commitment of different stakeholders.