Assessment of Women’s Participation in Community Development Projects in Nsukka Local Government Area of Enugu State
Chapter One
Purpose of the Study
Intends to:
- Determine various community development projects carried out by the women in Nsukka;
- Find out the extent to which women participate in various stages of community development projects in Nsukka;
- Ascertain constraints to participation of women in community development projects in Nsukka;
- Determine ways to enhance participation of women in community development project in Nsukka;
CHAPTER TWO
REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE
Global perspectives on women’s participation in community based projects
Women experience challenges in efforts to involve them in high levels of participation in community development projects. According to Wanjama (1996), women are missing in high levels of participation and in decision making pertaining to development. The absence of women in some levels of project development stems from a variety of factors including education, competing domestic and professional roles and lack of recognition of wamen’s knowledge and skills. Of particular importance are structural and attitudinal barriers inherent in the socialization process, notes Wanjama. The process of development IS essentially concerned with human development and it IS only fair that it should have a human face by being participatory, equitable and sustainable. Mayfield (1996) observes that it is only the people who can truly judge where they are and where they want to go. Participatory development thus enables all people to take part in debating and deciding upon issues affecting them. Despite efforts made to promote women participation in all levels of development processes worldwide, women have lagged behind and sidelined from policy and decision making processes (World Bank, 2006). According to the report, women are patently absent in the decision making processes and managerial positions and only participate actively in some stages and levels of project development. This has seen men take control of most of the prestigious positions. Consequently, women needs have been ‘left unattended since they lack representation at the top levels in the distribution of resources. Further, a United Nations Development Programme (2006) indicates that women still largely remain on the sidelines on account of the relative lack of education, tight schedules, anachronistic traditions that reinforce male supremacy, lack of finance and abysmally low representation in village institutional structures. The report notes that low participation of women 111 challenging positions such as managerial, high and increasing unemployment among young women, with consequent loss of confidence and vision has become a big challenge to development. Women’s participation at all levels of project development has remained low, prompting the recently adopted UNDP Gender Equality Strategy(2008-2011) which aims to expand the number of women in state machinery at all levels. The UNDP will focus on supporting the recruitment of higher proportions of women in executive positions in project development processes (UNDP,2006). The UNDP’s Report also stated that the equal participation of men and women 111 policy making, economic and sectoral analysis, project design and management may be impeded by cultural and legal constrains against women’s participation and by women’s relative lack of time and mobility caused by their workload and multiple roles. This reality is affirmed by Kabeer(l995) and Khasiani(1992). The World Bank Report (2000) suggests that women’s participation III high levels participation in project development needs to be improved globally. The World Bank aims to reduce gender disparities. by enhancing women’s participation in project development processes at all levels. It assists member countries to design gender sensitive policies, projects and programs to ensure that overall developmental efforts are directed to attain impacts that are equitably beneficial for both men and women. According to the report, development practitioners are globally advocating a participatory approach to the entire cycle of the project development due to the fact that it facilitates the attainment of sustainable self reliant development.
CHAPTER THREE
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
INTRODUCTION
In this chapter, we described the research procedure for this study. A research methodology is a research process adopted or employed to systematically and scientifically present the results of a study to the research audience viz. a vis, the study beneficiaries.
RESEARCH DESIGN
Research designs are perceived to be an overall strategy adopted by the researcher whereby different components of the study are integrated in a logical manner to effectively address a research problem. In this study, the researcher employed the survey research design. This is due to the nature of the study whereby the opinion and views of people are sampled. According to Singleton & Straits, (2009), Survey research can use quantitative research strategies (e.g., using questionnaires with numerically rated items), qualitative research strategies (e.g., using open-ended questions), or both strategies (i.e., mixed methods). As it is often used to describe and explore human behaviour, surveys are therefore frequently used in social and psychological research.
POPULATION OF THE STUDY
According to Udoyen (2019), a study population is a group of elements or individuals as the case may be, who share similar characteristics. These similar features can include location, gender, age, sex or specific interest. The emphasis on study population is that it constitutes of individuals or elements that are homogeneous in description.
This study was carried to examine of assessment of women’s participation in community development projects. Nsukka Local Government Area of Enugu State form the population of the study.
CHAPTER FOUR
DATA PRESENTATION AND ANALYSIS
INTRODUCTION
This chapter presents the analysis of data derived through the questionnaire and key informant interview administered on the respondents in the study area. The analysis and interpretation were derived from the findings of the study. The data analysis depicts the simple frequency and percentage of the respondents as well as interpretation of the information gathered. A total of eighty (80) questionnaires were administered to respondents of which only seventy-seven (77) were returned and validated. This was due to irregular, incomplete and inappropriate responses to some questionnaire. For this study a total of 77 was validated for the analysis.
CHAPTER FIVE
SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION
Introduction
It is important to ascertain that the objective of this study was to ascertain assessment of women’s participation in community development projects in Nsukka Local Government Area of Enugu State. In the preceding chapter, the relevant data collected for this study were presented, critically analyzed and appropriate interpretation given. In this chapter, certain recommendations made which in the opinion of the researcher will be of benefits in addressing the challenges of assessment of women’s participation in community development projects in Nsukka Local Government Area of Enugu State
Summary
This study was on assessment of women’s participation in community development projects in Nsukka Local Government Area of Enugu State. Three objectives were raised which included: Determine various community development projects carried out by the women in Nsukka, Find out the extent to which women participate in various stages of community development projects in Nsukka and Ascertain constraints to participation of women in community development projects in Nsukka and determine ways to enhance participation of women in community development project in Nsukka. A total of 77 responses were received and validated from the enrolled participants where all respondents were drawn from Nsukka Local Government Area of Enugu State. Hypothesis was tested using Chi-Square statistical tool (SPSS).
Conclusion
The case of Nsukka Local Government Area of Enugu State Project clearly shows that although patriarchy is the main culprit in gender discrimination, both men and women and society as a whole is to blame for its entrenchment. Socialization has led to women demeaning themselves and therefore, playing peripheral roles in the project development and management. It has also emerged from the study that some officials preferred handpicking women who shy away from volunteering to take up top positions so as to take advantage of taking full control of the project’s resources at the expense of their ignorance. This gender imbalance can well be redressed through conscientization as it has earlier been discussed in this chapter It is important to have women participate in project development; where participation means them being involved in needs assessment, project formulation, implementation, monitoring and evaluation. This will ensure a balance of control between men and women, so that neither side dominates. It is, therefore, important to note that women’s empowerment must be the concern of both women and men and the degree to which the project is defined as potentially empowering women is defined by the extent to which it addresses women’s issues.
Recommendation
The study has revealed that women were not involved in decision making process. The main contention behind women participation in community development projects is that real development must be people-centered. There is need for the women to work towards finding ways of mobilizing their own resources, by identifying possible revenue sources including through external funding to ensure sustainability of the project. Adequate resources (money, materials/equipment) should be allocated for capacity building of women and committees involved in community development projects. The study recommends that the women should be empowered through education and training so that they fully participated in community development projects. There is need for the need to sensitize the women through civic education to participate in the project cycle process. Training (capacity building) of women on project planning, implementation and monitoring be undertaken.
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