Sustaining Deliverables of Development Interventions in Africa: Lessons from the Implementation of National Fadama Development Project III in South–Western, Nigeria

Abstract

AbstractSustaining the project development objectives of government sponsored interventions beyond their official span have been a recurring challenge in Africa. Post official span assessment of development interventions establishes poor/low service delivery of deliverables. A close consideration of the approach used (Community Driven Development (CDD) in the implementation of the National Fadama Development Project (NFDP) III vis a vis other components raises the hope that the project will not tow the path of other development interventions whose deliverables were short lived. The Project Development Objective of the NFDP III was to increase the income of its beneficiaries on a sustainable basis. In view of the above, the paper identified key variables from field experiences that served as indicators in sustaining and achieving the objectives of NFDP III. By extension these indicators are necessary for sustaining deliverables of development projects in Africa. The paper deployed qualitative research methodology (Focus Group Discussion (FGD) and Key Informant Interview (KII)) to elicit information from its sample subjects. The respondents engaged in off farm/value addition enterprises (cassava, oil palm and palm kernel) served as sample subjects. Field data identified pre empowerment (group mobilization process and group cohesion) and post empowerment (capacity building support service, advisory service and adherence to the sustainable component of project) indices as necessary conditions for sustaining deliverables of development interventions in Africa beyond their official span.KeywordsNational Fadama Development Project IIISustaining deliverables and development interventions