Analysis of beneficiaries involvement on sustainability of rural development project in Rwanda a case study: sustainable woodland management and natural forest restoration project (PGREF), period: 2016-2019

Abstract

The study sought to ascertain the extent to which beneficiaries are involved in the implementation of Sustainable Woodland Management and Natural Forest Restoration Project (PGReF) activities; to define the perception of beneficiaries on the project sustainability to identify factors that influence beneficiaries’ participation in project activities, to examine the advantages or disadvantages of beneficiary involvement in project sustainability in Rwanda and to assess the strategies for beneficiary involvement to enhance project sustainability. The researcher used the questionnaire, unguided interview and documentary technique to collect data. The questionnaire was given to 384 respondents selected from both project implementers and beneficiaries of (PGReF).The results indicated that the beneficiaries participated neither in project design nor determine the project location, but they involved in implementation phase .Also the findings showed that 29.95 % of respondents strongly agreed that beneficiaries’ involvement in PGReF project allowed the increase forest cover and improved the living conditions of the forest dependent people. Furthermore, results indicated that 30.21% of respondents disagreed that inadequate funding affect their involvement whereas 41.15 % of respondents strongly agreed that inadequate training in the project affect their involvement. The analysis indicated that beneficiaries’ involvement in planning phase has low significant (p=0.09) effect on project sustainability but has positive coefficient with sustainability. The sustainability is simulated by Y= 0.34+ 0.36X also the analysis indicated positive correlation coefficient between PGReF sustainability and beneficiaries involvement. The study suggests project implementers to enhance the empowerment of beneficiaries through capacity building and to integrate beneficiaries during commencement of the project. The beneficiaries are encouraged to keep the sense of project ownership developed since the beginning even after external assistance to Sustainable Woodland Management and Natural Forest Restoration Project (PGReF) has been terminated so that they could continue benefiting from it.