Challenges And Opportunities Of Community Participation In Road Construction In The Ejere Woreda

Abstract

Rural road is one of the infrastructure developments implemented in many Woreda of the country since 2005. Many rural roads (Universal Rural Road Access Program (URRAP) in this case) are constructed jointly by the community and government participations. Ethiopian government gave more emphasize on the importance of community participation in its constitution, strategies, programs and plans as one of the key actors of development. Even though the government commended potential and tremendous contributions of community participation in local development in fostering the equality, inclusiveness and sustainability of development, it is hindered and constrained with various problems. This study aimed at exploring Challenges and opportunities of community participation in road construction in the Ejere district. To attempt the research objectives, the study was conducted by adapting descriptive research design. In terms of approach, mixed method, where both quantitative as well as qualitative data are combined and analysed. The unit of analysis for this study is Ejere Woreda which has six road district projects, among which Ejere-Gebajimata-Gorba, Ejere–Telbo-Hiddi and Ejere-Arebsa-Enaftu were sampled purposively, a total of 332 respondents are randomly selected from residents in the selected kebeles who benefited from road district project. Data were collected through questionnaire and interviews of key informants, observation of the field and critically reviewing documents reports of the concerned Woreda, administration and other relevant government offices. The findings indicated that the challenges and opportunities of community participation in road construction in the Ejere woreda in different forms. The level of Community opinions is considered properly in needs identification and priority setting, planning, implementation as well as evaluating in road development activities was insufficient, economic situation (financial problem, level of income and amount of hectare land) of community also determines their active participation in rural road construction. In rural road construction there was no economic level balance and majority of community contribute equally without their economic difference, local government use segregating of community by members of political party and non-members of political party to conduct meeting of local development, the local government have lack of well-developed legal and policy frame work is conducive, the structure of local government, enough human resource and lack of coordination like community participate in levelling and filling holes of roads as doesn’t hold water during “Kiremt’’, in cleaning of Ditches and sewerage pipes.