Role Of Community Based Organizations In The Development Of Rural Communities
Chapters: 1-5 | Type: Project
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to establish the influence of CBOs particular influence on the development of the rural communities in Delta state of Nigeria. The empirical study on CBOs activities influence on community development was a gap being addressed. The problem was to establish whether CBOs" activities had influence on development of the target population. The study sought to establish whether CBOs activities influenced the development of the community by answering question;-. "Do the CBOs activities influence the development of Communities in Delta state? The specific objectives was to establish the CBOs activities, approaches the CBOs uses, the level of CBOs partnership, the level of community participation in CBOs work and establishing relationships between CBOs activities and development. In order to ensure the study depicts logic, the variables under examination were operationalised on the basis of the four objectives in relation to dependent variable. The study involved seventy nine (79) respondents. This included 75 households stratified on the basis of age, education level and sex. To enhance objectivity six representative respondents were randomly derived from three CBOs management team and six from each of the three development partners selected randomly. The study targeted 1500 households, 36 people in the three CBOs management team and 45 employees of development partners in Delta state. The research sample involved 79 respondents. Seventy-five (75) from households, two (2) people in CBOs management team and two (2) from the three developments agency partners randomly selected. Descriptive survey design was adopted utilizing both numerical and non numerical primary and secondary data. Background information to study was achieved through literature review of previous studies, development reports, conferences presentation and text books. Data was collected through a questionnaire, observation, focused group discussion and content analysis. The statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) was used in data analysis and Measures of central tendency and variability were analyzed. The information has been presented in text, tables and figures. The findings of this study established that there exists a relationship between CBOs activities and development; in the rural livelihoods. The study recommends that level of partnership and methods of project selection should be focused as one of the factors for analysis when selecting CBOs activity; if development is a priority.
Chapter One
Introduction
1.1 Background of the Study
The history and importance of community based organization (CBO) in rural areas is a long one. They have been deeply involved in activities that have impacted on the livelihood of rural people. CBOs are formal voluntary social group that are found in communities which differ in size objective and degree of interaction among members. In these organizations, members have the ability to influence ideas and actions of others with the purpose to plan, implement and monitor social and economic development programmes and provide technical and financial helps to the communities. CBOs positively affect the process of rural change though increase in income, improvement of health, nutrition literacy of the people. Some of the developmental programmes they introduce bring changes in the rural communities such as health, education, micro finance, micro enterprise, sustainable agriculture, animal husbandry, safe water and sanitation (Wahab, 2000).
Agboola (1998) noted that successive Nigerian Government have responded to both rural and urban problems by evolving poverty alleviation programmes to help stir development but government top-down approach and lack of involvement of the people at he bottom up strategy have weakened the confidence of the people. Communities therefore seek solace in CBOs which pressurize government for attention to development problems in their communities and/or undertake development programmes and projects that they observe that are very much needed in their immediate communities.
The CBOs are associated with self-help (Ogundipe, 2003). They constitute the media for resource mobilization to confront local challenges. These include the finance and execution of projects, lobbying and nomination of representative to government offices to air their views and press their needs and developing human resources against future development needs of immediate communities. Thus, their impacts have been felt in the areas of agricultural development, economic development, policy matters, health, education, policy matters, health education, infrastructure, environmental and physical development among others. (Agboola, 1998).
Despite these accomplishments, many CBOs have risen and fallen like old empires, while some have had no significant impact since their establishment due to poor funding. This is so because CBOs in African"s communities are micro system within the macro environment that is afflicted by economic regression, low standard of living and poverty. There is therefore the need to appraise the socio economic status of existing CBOs in the communities of developing nations like Nigeria and identifying the degree of impact they have exerted on their physical or immediate environment.
1.2 Statement of Problem
The failure of many government development programmes in Nigeria could be traced to poor organizational structure at the grassroots level. The rural people are isolated, under educated and lack the means to win greater access to resources and some basis things of life such as pipe-borne water, electricity, postal services, health care centres, good roads and schools. The fact has been established that the government is constrained in its efforts to provide citizens with the required social and basic amenities for comfortable living (Anyanwu, 1992). Perhaps, this is due to the increasing population, misappropriation of funds, increasing wage bills, poor transportation network among others.
It is the gap arising from poor performance of government and other institutional organization that led to the formation of community based organization as means of improving the socio economic status of their communities. CBOs serve as the apex organization by which community people can embark on small scale industries, vocational trade, agricultural development projects, rural transportation and other socio economic activities (Adejumobi 1991).
It is in view of these facts that CBOs have been established by various people, bodies or groups to complement the effort made by the government. This study therefore is designed to asses the role of community based organization in the development of rural communities in Delta State.
1.3 Objectives of the Study
The main objective of the study is to examine the role of community based organization in the development of rural communities in Delta State.
Specific Objectives
The general objective of the study was achieved through the following four specific objectives
Identifying economic activities facilitated by CBOs operating in Communities in Delta state
Establishing approaches the CBOs use in facilitating community development activities in Delta
Establishing the level of CBOs partnership with other development agencies within and outside Communities in Delta state.
Establishing the level of community participation in CBOs facilitated projects.
Establishing the Relationships between CBOs activities and development
1.4 Research Questions of the Study
To achieve the goal of this study, the researcher sought to answer the following questions
What are the economic activities carried out by the CBOs in Communities in Delta state?
What approaches do the CBOs use in facilitating community economic development in Delta?
What is the level of CBOs partnership with other development agencies within and outside Communities in Delta state?
What is the level of community participation in CBOs facilitated projects in Delta?
1.5 Significance of the Study
CBOs play a significant role in community development and these roles need to be clearly understood by the policy makers, government even potential members. This will gradually help in identifying the appropriate support needed by the CBOs in order to improve on community development activities, thereby improving the standard of living in communities and also reducing rural urban drift.
This study will go a long way to understanding the mechanism of CBOs projects with particular reference to the people of Delta State. Recommendations would be made to rural communities, government and non government organization with a view to stimulating community development.
1.6 Scope of the Study
This study was carried out in Delta state. The researcher was favored by the fact that her mother is a member and in the management team of one of the CBOs under study. Hence, she was able to convince the rest of the members as well as members of the other CBOs to cooperate with the researcher and participate in the research study.
1.7 Definition of Significant Terms
Community Development
Community development is a process of strengthening community by prioritizing their actions of and perspectives in the development of social, economic and environmental structures.
Development Agencies
These are established organizations that are dedicated to give aid/assistance to CBOs. This aid might be in monetary or non-monetary forms; and these organizations are dedicated to ensure the success of the CBOs activities.
Community Participation
This refers to the active participation of members of Delta state targeted by this study. It is a definition of people coming together to integrate their resources in terms of time, man power, money and others; so as to achieve the preset goals and objectives of the CBOs. It also shows the degree of cohesiveness among the members of Delta state, when it comes to participating in the projects of the CBOs.
Development of Rural Communities
This is a process which increases community"s real power over economic decisions that influence the Communities in Delta state lives and priorities in their environment.
1.8 Organization of the Study
This study is organized into five chapters. The first chapter gives an introduction that covers background of the study; statement of the problem, purpose and objective of the study; basic assumptions of the study; significance of the study; scope and limitations of the study; and then definition of significant terms used in the study. The second chapter will give an extensive review of literature used in the study, followed by a presentation of the proposed methodology to be used, in chapter three. The fourth chapter elaborates on the data analysis and the presentation of the findings. Finally, the fifth chapter gives a summary of the findings of this study, as well as gives the conclusions and recommendations.
Chapter Five
Summary of the Findings, Discussions, Conclusions and Recommendations
5.1 Introduction
The summary of the study findings, conclusions drawn and recommendations made are contained in this chapter. The purpose of this study was to establish the influence of CBOs particular influence on the development of the rural communities in Delta state.
The information on CBOs particular activities influence on community development is a gap that requires attention. Therefore, the problem being addressed by this study is to establish whether there is influence of CBOs" particular activities on development of the Communities in Delta state.
5.2 Conclusion
The literature reviewed in chapter two of this study indicates that particular CBOs activities influence the community development. Following the analysis, the following conclusion can be drawn.
The duration in which CBOs has been operating is likely to influence the way the CBOs are managed, and the access of business information, income and saving among its members. Also, Business development Information access and level communication can influence the level of CBOs member"s assets. The methods used in selecting the CBOs projects are likely to influence the level of community participation and level of capacity building. Partnership and level of government support is likely to influence the access to business information among CBOs members.
From this study and related analysis, CBOs selected for this study present unique characteristics and people interviewed could view things differently in terms of how their CBOs activities related with development. An important fact in this study is that not all indicators need to be present for a CBO to be analyzed in terms of how its activities influence community development.
5.3 Recommendations
For the development agencies, the CBOs experiences, access to development information, level of partnership and methods of project selection should be focused as one of the factors for analysis when selecting CBOs activity if development is a priority.
Secondly researchers interested in the study of CBOs activities and their influence on community empowerment should consider allocating themselves reasonable time and identify more variables for correlation and regression analysis in order to get better conclusion.
5.5 Suggestions for Further Study
The purpose of this study was to establish whether community based organizations (CBOs) activities influenced development of rural communities - a case of selected CBOs in Delta state. The study ends at showing that there is a relationship between the CBOs activities and development. The study does not indicate how the variables studied influence the community development. In this case, further study to establish how the community based activities influences community development presents a gap for further study.
Table of Contents
Chapter One:
Introduction
1.1 Background to the Study
1.2 Statement of the Problem
1.3 Objectives of the study
1.4 Research Questions of the Study
1.5 Significance of the Study
1.6 Scope of the Study
1.7 Definition of Significant Terms
1.8 Organization of the Study
Chapter Two:
Literature Review
2.1 Introduction
2.2 Theoretical Basis for Understanding Economic Activities and Empowerment
2.3 Reasons for CBOS in Developing Countries
2.4 Conceptual Framework
2.5 Summary of the Chapter
Chapter Three:
Research Methodology
3.1 Introduction
3.2 Research Design
3.3 Target Population
3.4 Population and Sample of Study
3.5 Data Collection Instruments
3.5. Questionnaires
3.6 Validity of Research Instruments
3.7 Reliability of Research Instruments
3.8 Data Collection Procedures
3.9 Data Presentation and Analysis Techniques
3.10 Operational Definition of Variables
Chapter Four:
Data Analysis, Presentation and Interpretation of the Findings
4.1 Introduction
4.2 Background Information
4.3 Economic Activities carried out by CBOs
4.4 Approaches used by CBOs in community empowerment
4.5 Level of community participation in CBOs facilitated projects
4.6 Level of CBOs partnership with other development agencies
4.7 Development of the Community
Chapter Five:
Summary of the Findings, Discussions, Conclusions and Recommendations
5.1 Introduction
5.2 Summary of Findings
5.3 Discussion of Findings
5.4 Conclusion
5.4 Recommendations
5.5 Suggestions for Further Study
References
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