Browsing by Author "Nambili, Ester S."

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    Investigating community participation in development projects: A case study of Ondera irrigation project, Oshikoto region, Namibia
    (University of Namibia, 2025) Nambili, Ester S.; Nhemachena, Artwell
    Community participation is widely regarded as a foundation of sustainable development, particularly in projects aimed at improving the livelihoods of marginalized populations. Effective participation ensures that development is inclusive, locally relevant, and more likely to succeed in the long term. Historically, the failure of many development projects using the top-down approach has highlighted the importance of community members’ active participation in successfully achieving community development. Participation is actively participating in problem identification, decision-making, choosing a community project, planning it, implementing it, managing it, monitoring it, and controlling it. The purpose of this study was to investigate community participation in the irrigation project at Ondera Farm, in Oshikoto Region Namibia. The study used a qualitative research method to collect data, using a case study design. The study used the participatory development approach as the conceptual framework to understand community participation at Ondera farm’s irrigation project. The study findings concluded that the project was initiated by an external stakeholder, the government with little to no input from the community. The study also found that informationsharing and consultation about the project were minimal and often exclusive to a few community members. The study recommended that thorough and inclusive consultation should always be done with the development beneficiaries before planning of development interventions commences to ensure that the right interventions are implemented