Determinants Of Sustainability Of Community Based Flood Management Projects In Nyatike, Migori County Case: Lower Gucha Migori Water Resource Users Association

Abstract

Community based approaches for community development in projects management, have emerged as the best tools for achieving project sustainability. Project sustainability in flood management and prevention can be achieved if only change agents can adopt community-based approaches that embrace participation and involvement of the communities in designing, planning, implementation, and monitoring and evaluation. The main purpose of the study was to examine the sustainability of community based flood management projects in Lower Gucha Migori Water Resource Users Association in Nyatike, Migori County. The specific objectives were to examine the role of public participation in sustainability of community based flood management projects, to determine the role of funding in sustainability of community based flood management projects in Nyatike, to assess the effect of information dissemination in sustainability of community based flood management projects in Nyatike, and to examine expertise in sustainability of community based flood management projects in Nyatike, Lower Gucha Migori Water Resource Users Association, Migori County. This study adopted descriptive research design. The study target population was key stakeholders in Nyatike, Lower Gucha Migori Water Resource Users Association who are estimated to be 821. Simple random sampling technique was used to select 269 respondents as the sample size. The questionnaire was self-administered through drop and pick from the respondents. Data collected was mainly quantitative and analyzed by descriptive analysis. The descriptive statistical tools help the researcher to describe the data and determine the extent to be used. The Data analysis used was SPSS. The study found that community participation influences sustainability of flood management projects. The findings indicated that the level of access to information influences sustainability of community based flood management projects. According to the findings funding affects sustainability of flood management projects in Nyatike, Migori County. There is need for adequate funds for implementing of flood management projects according to the designs and plans. Trained members of Water Resource Users Association are more efficient while operating the water structures thus minimizes any breakdowns during maintenance or operation. The study recommends that county leadership and committee members of Lower Gucha Migori Water Resource Users Association ought to ensure that the major stakeholders are involved in the community based flood management project to allow them to own the projects. It is also recommended that Water Resource Users Association should ensure that management committees are formed and members adequately trained. The researcher acknowledges the fact that the study was limited to Nyatike, Migori County and not the entire country it is therefore recommended that further studies be conducted to establish the factors influencing sustainability of community based flood management projects in other counties.