World Vision and Household Livelihood in Maraba Sector, Huye District (2012-2015)

Abstract

The research study was conducted in the Southern Province of Rwanda, Huye District, Maraba Sector under the topic “World Vision Rwanda and Household Livelihood in Maraba Sector, Huye District” The purpose of the research was to assess the impacts of World Vision Rwanda (WVR) intervention on improving household livelihood of the community of Huye District with emphasis on its intervention area Maraba Sector. The research served mix method approach with 313 respondents composed of 308 World Vision Rwanda beneficiaries, 3 local authorities and 2 WVR leaders. The results were complemented by focus groups’ discussions with beneficiaries. The findings indicate that recipients had household livelihood challenges which necessitated the intervention of Donors. Those challenges include social economic threats that infringed the population into extreme poverty situation. Findings have shown that the World Vision Rwanda has intervened into social economic development domains and improved household livelihood in Maraba Sector. In terms of social economic impact, important strides were made in access to cash transfer, shelter, access to food, support in agriculture, access to health services, education, access to the market, creation of cooperatives and income generation activities, access to water, sanitation and environmental protection among other factors. The p-value of .712 which is more than 5% proves that the acceptance of availability linear relationship is considered to be good decision. Thus the shift from the extreme poverty rate to the improved life, based on the household categorisation and the area of intervention and the outcome of the support to life change, justify the contribution of the World Vision Rwanda on improving household livelihood and its role played in the poverty graduation of the community of Maraba Sector. Even though it is very difficult to confirm ideas from Edwards and Hulme (1995:6) who stated that it is difficult to find general evidence that NGOs are close to the poor. There is growing evidence that in terms of household livelihood improvement, the World Vision Rwanda performs as effectively as had been usually assumed by beneficiaries in Maraba Sector. Thus recipients have benefited from the support: 58.1% testifies that they were built houses 59.4% has shown that cash support has helped them to improve household livelihood. The total of 61.4% gave evidence that the main objective of World Vision Rwanda cash flow interventions was to smooth consumption after a large-scale livelihood shock (such as a lack of food) that threatened lives and exceeded the ability of affected households and communities to cope. Furthermore 62.3% have shown that the intervention of the World Vision Rwanda in the area of distribution of big and small animals, offer of land to cultivate, support in environmental protection mechanisms and land use management has helped beneficiaries to achieve sustainable agriculture. In addition, through World Vision Intervention, families have sent their children to school others are given school fee and materials. Finally the contribution of World Vision Rwanda is still facing various challenges which can hump its successful implementation and objective achievement. Thus among major suggestion to achieve sustainable household livelihood include: improvement of capacity building, involve local community in the intervention process, improve pre-existing capacities and effectively address material poverty, the physical deprivation of goods and services and the income.