A Theoretical Evaluation of Community Participation in Nyanguku Ward Dam Construction Project in Geita, Tanzania

Kiula P. Kiula; Walter Timo de Vries; Jenipher Kalori

doi:10.31292/mj.v5i2.195

Authors

Kiula P. Kiula Institute of Rural Development Planning https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6860-5474
Walter Timo de Vries Technical University of Munich
Jenipher Kalori Institute of Rural Development Planning https://orcid.org/0009-0005-4370-5451

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.31292/mj.v5i2.195

Keywords:

Development Planning, Community Participation, Empowerment, Motivation Theories\, Public Good Theory

Abstract

Land use planning projects in Tanzania face low participation. Currently we do not know why this is so or under which conditions participation could be high or low. Hence, the research objective is to unveil why or under which conditions participation can be high or low. We use two theoretical perspectives on participation to test this: 1) public good theory stating that participation is low if the project concerns a public good. 2. Participation motivation theory (3 types), stating that-people participate based on their transaction benefits. The test case concerns a dam construction funded by the Tanzania Social Action Fund III. Communities are assumed to participate in making decisions throughout the project. We used questionnaires to unveil how and when people participated. The findings reflect the claims of public good theory in a very few aspects. However, social exchange theory, one of the motivational theories seems to reflect participation behavior the best. We recommend further research to investigate factors for amplifying social exchange theory to enhance participation in land use projects in developing countries.

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Author Biographies

Kiula P. Kiula, Institute of Rural Development Planning

Kiula Peter Kiula holds MSc in Development Planning. He works as an Assistant Lecturer at the Department of Rural and Regional Planning of the Institute of Rural Development Planning in Dodoma, Tanzania. Mr. Kiula has accumulated massive experience on economic resource planning from working previously with various organizations on matters relating to development planning.

Walter Timo de Vries , Technical University of Munich

Prof. Walter Timo de Vries is both, the Chair of Land Management and the Dean of the study programs Geodesy and Geoinformatics at the Technical University Munich with massive experience on development of cadastres and land management, administration, registers and consolidation

Jenipher Kalori , Institute of Rural Development Planning

Jenipher Joseph Kalori holds a Bachelor Degree in Project Planning and Managemenet from the Institute of Rural Development Planning in Dodoma, Tanzania. She is a social researcher and project planning expert

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