| dc.description.abstract | The objective of this project paper was to explore the factors that influenced the
outcomes of IIloodo-Arriak water project. The survey approach has been further broken into
three objectives, to establish how community participation initiative resolved water problems:
• To analyse strategies and methodologies used,
• To describe ways of mobilising participation as applied in Illoodo-Arriak and
• To describe the influence of traditional cultural values on the results
The project paper also examined joint roles of the local community and external agents
in resource mobilization and in facilitating local participation. The study shows the interface
between community institutions and socio-cultural factors behind the formulation,
implementation, and management ofIlIoodo-Arriak water supply case study.
The survey framework is in three broad theories in participatory development: the
decentralization theory, Frerian participatory theory and cultural ecology resource
management. The first theory, decentralization emphases are on moving action from the centre
to the general community in the periphery. The Freirian theory is geared more towards
community education, involvement and pro-active participation. The focus on the cultural
ecology is on a complex relational impact between the indigenous material and non-material
resources, with culture-mediated effects in the modern environment.
The three development theories are relevant because they hinge on advocacy and
advance education approaches that provide knowledge and skills. This enables communities to
recognise and mobilise non-human material, resources while strengthening their potential in
self-service. The example of llloodo-Arriak community meeting its water needs, is a case in
point.
Our investigations indicate that participatory development by the community In
IIIoodo-Arriak water programme emanated from the community's desire to resolve its water
problems. This collective desire brought together a collaboration of stakeholders in a dialogue
to design a relevant development agenda with a capacity to meet community needs. The
dialogue process in the community led to the discovery of indigenous resources and its
empowerment. An initial baseline survey conducted at llloodo-Arriak served as an important
tool for community education.
Water in llloodo-Arriak is the critical resource which is stimulating further ongoing
changes in the community. The changes include community re-organization, socio-political,
economic and technological change. The availability of water is also enhancing livelihoods,
besides changing attitudes towards lifestyles. There is also a host of creative activities such as
crop-irrigation, personal hygiene, and education. More opportunities like improved livestock
and its marketing opened up the community socio-economic life.
Recommendations: stakeholders and in particular the community members should
playa key role in matters that concern them in all development projects such as water, health
and agriculture. The external change agencies' inputs ought to be appropriate in timing and
relevant to the community initiative, to justify the change as authentic. We believe pr~ject
ownership and its critical sustainability lies in the community identifying with their priniary
stake in the programme, being introduced or undertaken by change innovators within the local
area.
It is equally true that informed communities need little or no patronage in their change
agenda. Education is the avenue that creates awareness and enhances the community level of
participation, which is a decisive factor on the projects' outcomes and an energised water
advance including it's multiple secondary development. The project paper concludes with
recommendations based on its research findings, policy implications and proposes areas of
further research in its conclusion. | en |
