Influence of Community Participation on Sustainability of Housing Projects:the Case of Kibera Housing Project Funded by United Nations Human Settlements Programme in Nairobi County, Kenya

Abstract

United Nations funded projects have been facing serious issues of sustainability resulting to minimal impact after many years of implementation. This study therefore examines the importance of community participation on project sustainability in the case of Kibera Housing Project funded by the UN-Habitat, Nairobi County. To achieve its purpose, the study proposed the following four objectives: to establish the importance of community participation in during the project design phase in the project cycle on sustainability of UN funded projects in Kibera, Nairobi County; to determine the importance of building the capacity of beneficiaries on sustainability of UN-Habitat funded projects in Kibera, Nairobi County; to establish how project conceptualization affects its sustainability; and to make recommendations that have implications for programming, policy development and further research. The main theoretical framework for the study will be the Needs Assessment Theory. The study made use of case study research design involving both qualitative and quantitative approaches to data collection and analysis. The research used a sample size of 150 respondents through the use of stratified sampling and purposive sampling methods. Both primary and secondary data was collected. Whereas primary data was be collected through administration of questionnaires, in-depth interviews and Focus Group Discussions, secondary data was collected through library research comprising of published articles, books, official documents, refereed journals, reliable internet sources and other documentary sources. The Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS), version 20, was used in the analysis of primary data. The analyzed was presented in terms of tables, figures, percentages and frequencies. Ethical considerations such as obtaining informed consent and guaranteeing confidentiality to the respondents was also observed. The results of the study deduced that community participation is indeed vital in the project design phase as it is their needs that are being addressed. Capacity building of the community members is vital as the project should enhance their skills and also equip them with new skills. The project officials should also have project planning and management besides their technical skills. Participatory and continuous monitoring and evaluation should be carried out throughout the project cycle to ascertain the project is on course.