Assessing Community Participation in Sustainable Local Economic Development: the Case of Wolayta Sodo Town.
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Date
2017-06
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
Communities have their own capitals to contribute their resource in local economic development
and they have also their own cultural and behavioral resources of interface with their immediate
nature and nurture. From the standpoint of local economic development, there is a strong reliance
on local resources, leaders and institutions to respond to locally based economic crises and
opportunities. In light of this, the main objective of this study has made an effort to assess
community participation in sustainable local economic development and the specific objective of
this study were to examine and evaluate participation, roles and responsibilities, factors affecting
effective participation, the challenges and opportunities of community participation in local
economic development. For its methodological convenience mixed approach research design
meaning that both qualitative and quantitative research approaches are used. Under qualitative
method non probability purposive sampling techniques have been employed and in quantitative
method probability sampling techniques have been employed. The study participants have been
sub city, kebele, and ketena and mender level development committees were participated in the
in FGD session. Moreover, the members of ketena, kebele, sub city and town level active
participants from the communities were participated in survey questions. Besides, the town level
community participation development offices heads, sub city level community participation
officers, the sub city level community participation development offices heads and officers
participated in the interview session. The major finding indicates, community participation and
local economic development are two intertwined issues. Community participation plays a very
great role in identifying development queries and challenges that were raised in compliant
handling. Local economic development has become one of the key development interventions
and focuses on economic challenges which manifest the communities in unique localities.
Despite widespread recognition of the need of community participation in sustainable local
economic development, in reality community participation builds a sense of community
ownership, assures sustainability and responsibility for project activities. At last the results
obtained were job opportunities were create, saving culture was developed, partnership of
different institutions were developed, training and consultations were more encouraged. Finally,
the community participation in sustainable local economic developed created strong social,
community capital and developed sense of ownership with a very great confidence.
Key words: Community capitals, community participation and local economic development and
sustainable local economic development
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Keywords
Community capitals, Community participation, Local economic developmen, Sustainable local economic development