A Stakeholder Approach to Community Participation in a Rural Development Project

Sam Erevbenagie Usadolo,Marc Caldwel

doi:10.1177/2158244016638132

Abstract

The present study investigates a rural community project (Nguni Cattle Project) that uses Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) as a tool for its operational focus. The main objective of the study is to identify how the stakeholders are reflecting the PRA goal of the project. The method used to categorize the stakeholders is reported. The participatory patterns of the stakeholders are then analyzed, with emphasis on the points of intersections where the stakeholders meet to make sure the beneficiaries are sufficiently informed about the project. The data used to discuss the stakeholder participatory method were collected through interviews, information gleaned from organizational documents, and observations of meetings. The analysis of the data revealed the promotion of mutual understanding through sustained collaborative relationships among the stakeholders. The study presents a perspective that is new to the literature and to rural development practice due to its focus on the type of stakeholder participation in rural development projects.

Highlights

The implementation of rural development projects is inherently complex, partly due to the need to satisfy multiple stakeholders
Stakeholder participation in decision making is a democratic right, it is not uncommon that it is an operational framework mainly adopted by community development facilitators
By investigating the model used to facilitate stakeholders’ approaches in a rural community development project, this study provides a new perspective to the literature on rural community development by examining how the proper

Summary

Introduction

The implementation of rural development projects is inherently complex, partly due to the need to satisfy multiple stakeholders. Substantial evidence suggests that reciprocal relationship between stakeholders increases their participation in rural development projects because they provide a platform for new relationships to be developed in addition to the existing ones—and they learn to appreciate the legitimacy of each other’s views (Forester, 1999; Leeuwis & Pyburn, 2002). This makes the collaboration of stakeholders necessary for sustainability and the implementation of decisions to be addressed effectively (Richards, Blackstock, & Carter, 2004). One of the arguments that has been used to justify stakeholders’ participation is that it results in a strong sense of ownership over the process and outcomes achieved (Reed, 2008)

Objectives

Conclusion