Influence of Social Capital on Perfomance of Social Amenities Projects in Rural Areas of Tanzania: a Case of Water Projects in Puge Division, Tabora

Abstract

The development of rural areas is measured on various indicators and various parameters. Social amenities are some of those indicators that rural development can be measured. Social capital is linked to development of rural areas. However, its role in development of social amenities is still a paradox that this study intends to divulge. In the light of this, the study sought to evaluate the impact of social capital on the performance of social amenities projects in Puge Division of Tabora in Tanzania. In this case only the water project was considered. The study was guided by three objectives namely: evaluating the way structural social capital influences performance of social amenities projects of Puge Division in Tabora, assessing the degree to which relational social capital influence the performance of social amenities projects of Puge Division in Tabora and evaluating the influence of cognitive social capital on performance of social amenities projects of Puge Division in Tabora. In order to effectively pursue this study, a descriptive research design that involved collecting data through interviews and questionnaire was utilized. The validity of the research instruments was ensured by exposing them to expertise like the research project supervisor and panelists for scrutiny from which the insights given used to improve the validity of the instruments. Besides, questionnaires had a Cronbach’s Alpha coefficient of 0.985 signifying that the instrument was reliable. The data was collected from a sample of 145 participants who included 133 Community members to which questionnaires were administered and interview was conducted 1 District Water Engineer, 5 Water Committee Members, 3 Ward Executive Officers and 3 Village Executive Officers. Descriptive statistics basically frequencies used to analyze quantitative data whereas thematic analysis was utilized to analyze the qualitative data from interview. It was found that the level of performance of social amenities projects including the water projects in Puge Division was not satisfactory. As results indicated that some of the aspects of structural social capital were reported to influence the performance of social amenities projects positively and some do not. Moreover, it was established that relational social capital had positive influence on the performance of social amenities project and lastly negative influence of cognitive social capital as the performance of social amenities projects was also reported, specifically more than 83.3 percents of the participants indicated that they do not meet their obligations in making the water projects extremely well. In addition, the results further revealed that most of the aspects examined in the three forms of structural social had positive influence on the performance of social amenities projects. The study recommends that there should be collective and practical measures including but not limited to policy reform and local community building to create awareness on the aspects of social capital and their significant influence on the performance of social amenities projects which are meant to improve their livelihoods. This may increase the level of involvement of the members of communities in all processes involved in the development of water projects and other amenities projects.