ASSESSMENT OF THE STRATEGIES FOR SUSTAINING SELF HELP GROUP PROJECTS IN PAIKORO LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA NIGER STATE NIGERIA
ABSTRACT
Self-help groups have been introduced in several communities and Paikoro Local Government Area is one of such communities. Many projects have been executed by Self-help groups in Paikoro Local Government Area of Niger State. How these projects are managed after they have been completed would determine their sustainability. This research assesses the strategies the self-help groups have adopted for sustaining projects in Paikoro L.G.A. The specific objectives are to: identify existing self-help groups in the study area and the projects they have executed; examine the process of need identification and resource mobilization for projects execution by the self-help groups and examine the people’s opinion on the effectiveness of projects executed by different self-help groups in meeting the needs for which they were executed and examine the management styles being used and their effects on the sustainability of the projects. This study adopts purposive sampling to select respondents. A total of 140 questionnaires were administered to the SHG leaders and 382 questionnaires were administered to community members. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistical techniques of the SPSS computer programme in form of frequencies and tables to present information gathered in a summary form. The key findings are that Projects such as roads, clinic, boreholes, electrification, skill acquisition centers, schools, community toilet have been executed as at 2010. The process of identifying needs is basically through meetings, consultations and constant dialogue by Self-help groups, ward heads and the citizens. In the area of resource mobilization, for project execution, personnel are readily available, appeal for donation, fund raising ceremonies, levy, and contributions by the community members are also given. The impact of the projects has been felt by the citizens as claimed by 77.5%. The complexity of the projects in terms of usage is very simple to operate by the citizens as 87.3% agreed to that. Citizen participation is highly encouraged and forms the bedrock of project sustainability strategy among the self-help groups. Other project sustainability strategies being used are: a)project operation and maintenance, b)Participatory strategy of need identification, c)regular fund sourcing, d)locating projects at points that are central to all beneficiaries and, e)carrying along traditional rulers at the village level as well as political leaders at the local and state government levels. This shows that the sustainability prospect of self-help group projects in Paikoro Local Government Area is fairly good. It is recommended that Community participation is a weapon to be used for sustainability in projects, as the citizens treat such projects as theirown.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
Title page ………………………………………………………………………………………. Declaration i
Certification ii
Dedication… iii
Acknowledgements… iv
Abstract… vi
TableofContents… vii
List of Tables… xi
List of Figures… xiii
CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION
- BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY 1
- THE RESEARCH PROBLEM 2
- STUDY AIM AND OBJECTIVES 4
- SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY 5
- SCOPE OF THE STUDY 5
CHAPTER TWO: CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK AND LITERATURE REVIEW
- Project Sustainability Framework 7
- LITERATURE REVIEW 9
- Role of Community Participation in Sustainable Development 9
- Forms of Participation 10
- Ways to Guarantee Participation 10
- How Participation Guarantees Sustainable Development 11
- Evolution of Self Help Groups in Nigeria 14
- Government’s Efforts in Community Development Programmes in Nigeria 19
- Role of Self Help-Groups in Rural Development ………/ 20
- Self-Help Group Activities in Parts of Nigeria and Beyond 21
- LITERATURE REVIEW 9
CHAPTER THREE: THE STUDY AREA AND METHODOLOGY
3.1 Location 25
3.1.1 Climate 25
3.1.2. Drainage and Geology 26
- Soil and Agricultural Potentials. 26
- Vegetation 29
- Mineral Resource 29
- Population Size 30
- Economic Activities… 30
- History of the Study Area 30
- METHODOLOGY
- Reconnaissance Survey 33
- Types of Data Required 33
- Sources of Data 34
- Primary Sources 34
- Secondary Sources 34
- Sample Size and Sampling Techniques 34
- Methods of Data Analysis 37
CHAPTER FOUR: RESULTS PRESENTATION AND DISCUSSION
- Socio-economic Characteristics of the Respondent 38
- Gender 38
- Age Distribution of Respondents 39
- Marital Status of the Respondents 40
- Level of Formal Educational of the Respondents 41
- Non-Formal Education of Respondents 42
- Occupation of the Respondents 43
- Income of Respondents 44
- Existing Self Help Groups in the Study Area 45
- Self-help Group Projects in the Study Area 46
- Critical Projects and Conditions 51
- Objectives of Projects Executed 53
- Process of Need Identification and Resource Mobilization 54
- Process of Resource Mobilization 56
- Respondents Perception of Project Effectiveness by SHGs in the Study Area 57
- Project Monitoring and Maintenance 59
- Potential for the Sustainability of Self-help Group Projects in the Study Area 60
- Ways of Sustaining Self-help Group Projects and Activities 63
CHAPTER FIVE: SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECCOMENDATION
- SUMMARY OF MAJOR FINDINGS 65
- CONCLUSION 66
- RECOMMENDATION 67
LIST OF TABLES
Pages
Table 3.1: Distribution of SHGs by District in theStudyArea 35
Table 3.2: Distribution and Role of Sampled Community Members ineachDistrict 36
Table 4.1: Gender oftheRespondents 39
Table 4.2: Age oftheRespondents 40
Table 4.3: Marital Status oftheRespondents 41
Table 4.4: Level of Formal Educational oftheRespondents 42
Table 4.5: Non-Formal Education ofthe Respondents 43
Table 4.6: Occupation oftheRespondents 44
Table 4.7: Income LevelofRespondents 45
Table 4.8: Number of Self-help GroupsbyDistrict 46
Table 4.9: Selected Self-help Group Projects Executed in theStudyArea 47
Table 4.10: Present Condition of Self-help Group Projects andtheirProvider 51
Table 4.11: Types of Needs Identified bytheRespondents… 55
Table 4.12: How Project LocationsareDetermined 56
Table 4.13: Sourcesof Funds 57
Table 4.14: Effectiveness ofexecutedprojects 58
Table 4.15: Complexity of Project in termsof Usage 58
Table 4.16: Project Maintenance as Indicated byCommunityMember… 59
Table 4.17: Monitoring and MaintenancefromLeaders 60
Table 4.18: Ways of Ensuring Sustainability of Projects Identified bySHG Leader… 62
Table 4.19: Ways of SustainingSelf-help Groups 64
LIST OF FIGURES
Figures Pages
Figure 1 Map of Niger State showing thestudyarea 27
Figure 2 Map of Paikoro Local Government Area 28
ASSESSMENT OF THE STRATEGIES FOR SUSTAINING SELF HELP GROUP PROJECTS IN PAIKORO LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA NIGER STATE NIGERIA