Investigating community participation in development projects: A case study of Ondera irrigation project, Oshikoto region, Namibia
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Date
2025
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University of Namibia
Abstract
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
Description
A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Master of Art in Development Studies
Keywords
Participation, Community participation, Community development, Irrigation, Bottom-up approach, Participatory development approach, Namibia, University of Namibia