ABSTRACT
This research study will focus much on the problems and prospects of community development programmes particularly in Dala area of Kano State in western Province of Nigeria as, problems and prospects of community development programmes has been a major effect on the development of the formal and informal economic spheres in Nigeria as in many countries of the Southern Africa continues to increase disparities and aggravate the social and environmental problems of the rural and urban poor. In recent years, a shift has taken place to incorporate local communities as active partners into urban upgrading and development interventions. However, they are numerous challenges in achieving project objectives whenever the community does not participate as there is no accountability by the community and the community does not feel the sense of ownership to that particular project and this hinders development. Therefore, this research report will discuss the experience of the Problems and prospects of community development programmes as it tries to identify and demonstrate mechanisms and solutions for the manifold and interrelated problems which could then be applied in other informal areas. The research study focused much on promoting community participation and multi-actor partnerships without which any attempt to achieve remarkable and sustainable impacts in community development. Conclusions and recommendations were made based on the findings that were collected through interviews, focused group discussions, observation and questionnaires distributed to Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock, Ministry of Community Development and Social Services, Ward development committee of Dala ward, institutions and NGOs implementing development projects in the area and youths and women groups in the area of study.
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background of study
This dissertation is on the assessment carried out on the problems and prospects of community development. The dissertation looked at problems and prospects of community development programmes by focusing much on community participation as a tool for community development, challenges of participation and its causes and how the challenges can be addressed in order to solve problems and prospects of community development. It is important to look at the concepts of community/community development before looking at community participation hence this study will also look at community/community development in brief. It is evident that, there are a lot of social service providers aiming at eradicating poverty by raising the living standards of the marginalized poor which have not yield a positive result. As most of programs provided for community development have guidelines that are set by the central government and not just guidelines but they are also imposed on the people. It is evident that these programs does not stand the test of time as immediately the funders moves out, the projects becomes a white elephant due to lack of participation by communities involved. Hence an investigation has to be carried out in order to find out the reasons community participation is still a challenge.
In Nigeria today it has been proven that most of the developmental projects that are implemented in most rural areas become a white elephant due to challenges in participation by the community.
Not just in Nigeria but in most cities in developing countries it is proven that the challenge of providing adequate service cannot be met through investment in technical facilities alone, the required funding is just not available and the needs and problems themselves are evolving too rapidly. In these circumstances, service provision depends very much on an efficient organization of service delivery processes and the best possible use of available material and human resources. It is mainly a question of management, which calls for active cooperation between government agencies, the community concerned and private sector actors Schubeler, Peter, (1996).
Participation should be justified on the basis of its contribution toward the objectives of community development. While participation may also serve broader social and political goals, the decision to employ a participatory approach must in the first place be based on the contribution of this approach toward the goals of community development systems and the effectiveness and efficiency of service delivery in rural communities. Participatory in community development requires that user communities and responsible institutions have both the capacity and the opportunity for participation. While this may seem self-evident as it raises the crucial point that participatory processes have specific requirements in terms of resources, time, and skills. The necessary capacity must be established and adequate opportunities for participation created in rural communities as participation is always associated with empowerment of the participants. Smith, M. K. (2006)
This dissertation will also focus on the study of the potential challenges and advantages of community participation for sustainable urban development as it compels to make explicit assumptions about four main topics in participation and this will include the concept of participation, definition of participation, scope of participatory strategies and will review the main constraints for participatory strategies and definitions of sustainability and Sustainable development.
As it is highlighted in the National development report on community development that the social workers can contribute to the greatest extent to community development if the efforts of the people and that of the government combine together, people will be made to realize their capacities in the effective manner for rural empowerment. Through valuable inputs in the poverty reduction programs such as Social welfare programs and community development programs, social workers can bring the tremendous change in the rural economy through community development. But unfortunately, governments have not realized their capacities to such extent which will promote social inclusion of marginalized sections into the rural economy. They can excel through the utilization of their professional knowledge with capacities of the rural poor who has been totally ignored. So governments should recognize the needs of such community mobilizers who will serve as champions of social justice for socially excluded people.
Being in the field of social work that aims at improving the living standards of people, it is important to look at challenges that prevent the goal of social work in improving living standards of people socially, mentally and economically. Mostly, the people who are more vulnerable are the people in the rural areas hence to put more focus on community development as Community development is a process of bringing change among rural community from the traditional way of living to progressive way of living. It is also expressed as a movement for progress. Social work as recent branch of knowledge has emerged as a problem solving profession. Community development is almost unknown in rural areas while cities are using it effectively for the promotion of development among cities. Reason being people in the cities has knowledge on the importance of community development. in social work the main areas of concern is in the provision of social services to the poor, vulnerable and marginalized members of society that cater for the protection of the weak members of society. Social workers work with other professionals such as civil engineers, mechanical engineers, physical planners, environmental and natural scientist to deliver services that promote participatory development such as community based projects to the people in rural areas. In social service delivery, total participation of all stakeholders is important as promotion of participatory helps inbuilt abilities for positive contribution to change by the communities in community development. Hence Participatory methods are emphasized in issues of development in which people genuinely participate, which results into improving the wellbeing of individuals. Participation is important to the client and stake holders of community development as there is an expectation that strengths exist both in the client and in their larger environment and that the clients know best what how to utilize these resources. When the knowledge of the clients and that of the experts is combined, they are high chances of achieving their objectives. Participation also works on the assumption that nobody knows the upper limits of an individual’s capacity to grow but themself. Saleeby, D, (1997)
As social workers does not provide solutions for people but helps the people realize themselves and build the potential to deal with their social ills, the participation of the people themselves is more important in the field of social work as the people themselves know better their challenges hence in a good position to determine the solutions to their challenges with the help of experts. Social service providers have been providing the social services to communities and society at large rural community inclusive hence social ills are not eliminated due to lack of participation by communities involved. This attracted the need to carry out this investigation on the problems and prospects of community development.
1.2 Statement of The Problem
According to Wanyende P. (2007); “They are numerous challenges in achieving project objectives whenever the community does not participate as there is no accountability by the community and the community does not feel the sense of ownership to that particular project and this hinders development. This also contributes to vandalism and wastage of resources. Most projects that can cost million dollars has become a white elephant due to lack of participation by the local community and this lack of participation by local community brings about myths and rituals associated to certain service deliveries that can help the rural community develop”. Due to this fact, the researcher is prompted to carry out a survey on the problems and prospects of community development to address these issues that hinder development. In this case, the study is carried out in Dala area of Kano State in the Northern part of Nigeria.
1.3 Rational of The Study
This research will provide answers to questions below;
1. What is the extent of problems and prospects of community development?
2. What are the problems of community development?
3. What determines the prospects of community development?
4. What measures can be put in place to address problems of community development?
1.4 Objectives of The Study
1.4.1. Main Objectives
The main objective of the study is to carry out an investigation on the problems and prospects of community development in Dala area.
1.4.2. Specific Objectives
1. To describe the extent of problems and prospects of community development.
2. To identify the problems of community development.
3. To determine the prospects of community development.
4. To suggest measures that can be put in place to address the problems and prospects of community development.
1.5 RESEARCH QUESTIONS
1. What is the extent of problems and prospects of community development?
2. What are the problems of community development?
3. What determines the prospects of community development?
4. What measures can be put in place to address problems of community development?
1.6 Significance of The Study
This research will help address the problems and prospects of community development and this will help in the improvement of techniques to be used in addressing issues of community participation in community development. It has been acknowledged that community participation is important in community development hence it has to be embraced in order to accomplish community development. This is the reason to carry out a this study in order to find out what is preventing community participation in community development as the problems and prospects of community development are hindering community development to thrive. It is not just hindering the community development to thrive but a set back on the government and agencies that are embarking on the journey of developing the rural community as most of the projects implemented become a white elephant. Therefore, these study findings will add up to the knowledge of community development which will improve the projects implementation and this will contribute to the economic and social development of people in the communities and nations at large. It will also help save resources as the right projects will be conducted in the right places as they will be not be or they will be less trial and errors. The projects will stand a test of time as the community itself will take care of the project even after the donor has left.
1.6 Study Scope
This study will confine itself to selected communities of Dala in Kano state, Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock, Ministry of Community Development and Social Services, Ward development committee of Dala ward, institutions and NGOs implementing development projects in the area and youths and women groups in the area.
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